# Obscene gestures: one finger vs. two

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscene-gestures-one-finger-vs-two/715442>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 20, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscene-gestures-one-finger-vs-two/715442 "2015-03-20T01:45:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscene-gestures-one-finger-vs-two/715442/21 "2015-03-23T22:01:47Z")

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> [@Wesley\_Clark](#):
>
> LOL. I had no idea that the V sign was considered an obscene gesture in the UK. In the US that is the peace symbol.

I first became aware of the two-finger, palm-in gesture being an insult in the UK from watching \*The Young Ones \*on MTV in the mid 80s (Vyvyan used it a lot). Although, doesn’t it always involve a distinct upwards motion when displaying? I thought that implied ‘up your nose’ (i.e. with both fingers) or something.

BTW, according to _Naked Ape_ anthropologist Desmond Morris at least, the middle finger is an insult because it resembles a cock & balls. Same goes for why pointing your index finger with the others clenched is considered very rude & impolite.

> [@bob++](#):
>
> The “coffee shake” gesture is the one in which a hand is extended with the fingers loosely curled. The hand is then moved up and down to imitate the action of shaking a tin of coffee beans. It also imitates the action of a man masturbating.

Although it’s not widely used, this insulting motion is understood in the US, though here it would be read as “You’re a jerkoff” (‘wanker’ isn’t really known here).

[Beetlejuice used it…](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRDJN23YZmw&feature=player_detailpage#t=147)

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