# Middle Finger

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-finger/54053>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 11, 2001, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-finger/54053 "2001-02-11T19:14:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![elite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@elite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elite)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-finger/54053/1 "2001-02-11T19:14:33Z")

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What are the origins of the middle finger (when soley upright) having such an impolite meaning?

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**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-finger/54053/2 "2001-02-11T19:50:12Z")

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Here is the snopes link that addresses a common legend on this subject. Look at it before you read any of the other replies to this thread.:

[Snopes on the middle finger](http://www.snopes.com/spoons/fracture/pluckyew.htm).

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**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2001, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-finger/54053/3 "2001-02-12T00:11:33Z")

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Um, you might want to check out [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=59482) in GQ, just two threads below this one, on the same subject!

In that thread is a link to [Cecil’s answer](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/980904.html), and several other good links.

Arjuna34