# flipping the bird

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flipping-the-bird/132107>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [October 13, 2002, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flipping-the-bird/132107 "2002-10-13T16:51:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/34f0e0/32.png) [@Elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elizabeth)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flipping-the-bird/132107/1 "2002-10-13T16:51:24Z")

</div>

Hello all

Can anyone please tell me the the begining of when people started giving the bird. And why it started? 😃 Thanks Liz

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flipping-the-bird/132107/2 "2002-10-13T16:55:59Z")

</div>

The Master speaks.

[What’s the origin of “the finger”?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a980904.html)

You’re welcome.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/34f0e0/32.png) [@Elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elizabeth)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flipping-the-bird/132107/3 "2002-10-13T17:01:27Z")

</div>

Hey that was fast, thanks. Makes sense; 😉

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![\_catharsis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/f1d935/32.png) [@\_catharsis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_catharsis)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2002, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flipping-the-bird/132107/4 "2002-10-15T12:47:02Z")

</div>

…but bear in mind that the jury’s still out on whether or not that also gave rise to the English two-fingered version or whether the Agincourt story actually IS true as regards Johnny Rotten’s favourite gesture.