# Two-fingered shaming gesture

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-fingered-shaming-gesture/102735>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 9, 2002, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-fingered-shaming-gesture/102735 "2002-04-09T22:39:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Shame\_s\_Joys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Shame\_s\_Joys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shame_s_Joys)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2002, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-fingered-shaming-gesture/102735/1 "2002-04-09T22:39:32Z")

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That gesture made with one index finger scraping crosswise along the length of another index finger. It means “Shame on you!”

Where did it come from? How did it originate and does it have any symbolical referent?

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**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2002, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-fingered-shaming-gesture/102735/2 "2002-04-09T23:12:35Z")

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We keep trying this one, but we never seem to find a definitive answer. Some speculation in [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51897) thread, along with a link to an earlier one.

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**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-fingered-shaming-gesture/102735/3 "2002-08-12T19:30:51Z")

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oh, poo.

Thanks for the links, though.

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**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-fingered-shaming-gesture/102735/4 "2002-08-12T19:37:50Z")

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oops. Meant to put that last post [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=130332)

Mods? Can ye help? Or does it matter?

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**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-fingered-shaming-gesture/102735/5 "2002-08-12T21:09:28Z")

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Hmmmm…

I can’t recall the source, but I heard that it had it’s origins in the Middle Ages, and it was a “cross” symbol that was used against people who had sinned.

That’s also the reason behind the “cross your fingers” when you tell a lie; it’s supposed to protect your soul from the sin.

(yeah, right…)

~VOW

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**Author:** ![femtosecond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@femtosecond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/femtosecond)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-fingered-shaming-gesture/102735/6 "2002-08-13T10:31:37Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> **Or does it matter?**

Not to me.