Back in the late 70’s, I frequently saw an obscene gesture in which the person would make a circle with their thumb and forefinger will all of their fingers together and then strike themselves on the upper ribcage a few inches under their armpit with the thumb and forefinger circle (on the same side of the body). The gesture would make a “thump” or pop sound which made it even funnier.
Does anyone remember this? Does anyone know what it means? I would like to bring it back if it has not been copywrited, patented, or licensed.
I occasionally saw the circled hand gesture making wanking movements from the forehead (to indicate “you are a dickhead”).
The Australian version of flipping the bird/“up yours” used to always be two fingers (often held in a V like “V for victory” only palm-inward and with an upwards motion). That died out in favour of the American single-digit model.
Then, the Vietnamese will do “you’re a cunt” by using the tip of the middle finger to pull back the tip of the first finger by gripping the end of the nail - this creates a labia shape between the fingers.
It sounds vaguely Brooklynesque. Or Italian. Or maybe sign language. I can definitely picture it, but can’t remember in what context I’ve seen it done.
We kids used to use the “okay” sign (circle with thumb and forefingers, other three digits extended and separated) to sign “asshole”. The three digits being A-S-S, and the hole, uh, HOLE. This had the added benefit of mollifying the teacher who asked you to apologize to Bobby while Bobby knew you were calling him an asshole under her nose.
It sounds related to “circling” a guy. Where if you could make that circle with the fanned fingers below your waist, and trick a guy into looking at it, you got to punch him on tha arm.
Also, we used to make the circle, and flap the remaining three fingers as we moved the hand sideways through the air.
This meant, “you’re a flying asshole.” No, that doesn’t make sense.
BTW, I just googled “flying asshole” and once I got past the Bush links, I found this photo. Safe for work. So, I guess I’m not alone.
Both were used when I was growing up in NZ- the single digit we all know and love conveyed the same meaning it has now, but the reverse-V one tended to be a bit more good natured, for want of a better word- it was closer to a gestured “raspberry” rather than “Fuck you!”, if that makes sense.
It sounds similar to the ASL sign for “asshole”. Make a circle with your index finger and thumb. Position your hand with your palm against your chest, and the circle on top.
In California in the 70s/early 80s, if you bent up your arm tight and curled up your fingers like that and thumped yourself in the chest like that, you were saying that the signified person was like, way totally, a total retard.
Extra abuse points for saying “Duuuurrrrr” at the same time. Like this: thump thump “Duuuurrrrr!!!”
