Flipping the Bird: Difference between revisions

[[File:statham-lovin refit 579.png|link=Crank|frame|Chelios finally gets to say, "Fuck you, too." [[Man On Fire|While on fire]].]]

 

 

To flip someone off is an [[Take That|insult]] in most of the Western World, and earliest references of it [[Older Than Feudalism|go all the way to Ancient Roman]] writings, where it is referred to as ''digitus impudicus'' (the "impudent digit"). Often directed to those in authority in an act of defiance, ''Flipping The Bird'' is an easy way to get across complicated emotions in one motion. Also used occasionally by people who are being photographed against their will, and want to ensure the resulting image won't be publishable. Frequently used toward another driver while at the wheel.

 

{{examples}}

* [http://images.nextnewnetworks.com/839.jpg Bentley: Chairman]{{Dead link}} ad. Nuff said.{{context}}<!-- MOD: Nuff needs to say more. -->

* In an ad for Wild Turkey Kentucky Bourbon, a group of guys are contemplating whether the woman at the end of the bar likes one of them, when suddenly she flips them off. Apparently not, right? Turns out, in this bar, the finger means "order that person a Wild Turkey on the rocks." As reflected in the tagline, [[Incredibly Lame Pun|"Give 'em the bird."]]

 

* [[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure|Jolyne Kujo]] can do this [http://www.mangarush.com/files/mangas/jojo39s-bizarre-adventure-stone-ocean/67/6.jpg in several]{{Dead link}} [http://www.mangarush.com/files/mangas/jojo39s-bizarre-adventure-stone-ocean/67/7.jpg different languages.]{{Dead link}}

* Rock does [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY4lxe2gMqE this] quite memorably in the second episode of ''[[Black Lagoon]]'', flipping off the Extra Order mercs as he pulls his first [[Black Lagoon/Awesome|Crowning Moment of Awesome]] by having the title ship launched off a ramp and the torpedoes launched to wipe out an attack chopper that was after them.

*** [[Getting Crap Past the Radar|That's his ring finger.]]

** There's also a chapter title page where half of the cast flips off Cell.

* In ''[[Bleach]]'' {{spoiler|Isshin}} simultaneously flips {{spoiler|Aizen}} the bird and ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20100505205553/http://mangastream.com/read/bleach/398-93/18 knocks him several city blocks back]'' (it's unknown if ''some'' sort of hand gesture was [[Full-Contact Magic|necessary]] or if it was entirely because he felt like it).

** The manga features Grimmjow grinning madly while flipping off [http://www.mangareader.net/94-653-4/bleach/chapter-199.html the reader].

* In chapter 7 of ''[[Sensual Phrase]]'' Sakuya does this to spite {{spoiler|his half brother}} Ralph, even saying "FUCK YOU!"

* Shows up in ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'', where [[Weasel Mascot|Chamo]] [http://www.mangafox.com/manga/mahou_sensei_negima/v06/c046/11.html gives Fate the finger.] Possibly. His super-deformed style makes it tough to tell, but that gesture probably fits the situation best.

* The [[Gunsmith Cats]] salute an annoying ATF agent this way as he leaves. Of course, as average residents of [[The Windy City]], it's reasonable.

* Early in ''[[Excel Saga (anime)|Excel Saga]]'', when Excel is in prison, another prisoner asks if there's anyone she likes. She attempts to give a shy thumbs-up of "yeah", but accidentally flips her new friend off on the first attempt.

* In ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'' Kuwabara begins bashing Yusuke in comparison to his spirit sword vs Yusuke's spirit gun saying the gun is weaker. Yusuke responds with "That depends on which finger I'm using" while flipping Kuwabara off clearly. This was, of course, edited out of the [[Toonami]] block version.

* One [[Peter Kay]] routine discussed the art of stealthily flipping someone off by pretending to scratch your face.

 

* [[John Constantine]] (who used to be pictured above) knows the [[Did You Just Scam Cthulhu?|appropriate moment]].

* Lula from the German comic ''[[Lula und Yankee]]'' does that at least once.

* Among other instances (both American and UK versions) in ''[[With Strings Attached]]'', Ringo does this after he puts Sarekyl in a tree.

* In ''[[In The Dark]]'', [[Backstreet Boys| A.J. McLean]] does this to [[Spice Girls| Melanie Chisholm]] for a laugh after checking on her [[Tap on the Head|injuries]]. Chisholm wasn't amused as even with her injuries and being from England, she knew the meaning.

 

== [[Film]] ==

* ''[[Undercover Brother]]''. The title character and Sistah Girl are being chased by two security guards in golf carts. The guards try to warn some senior citizens (also in golf carts) to clear out of the way, and one elderly woman gives them The Finger.

* [[Roddy Piper]] does this in ''[[They Live!]]'' as he {{spoiler|lies dying, having exposed the true, unpleasant form of the [[Not Quite Human|aliens]] .}}

* In ''[[X-Men 1]]'', Wolverine flips Cyclops off with one of his claws during the climax.

** He also does it to Gambit in ''[[X Men Origins: Wolverine|X Men Origins Wolverine]]''.

* Sally Field flips off a motorcycle cop in ''[[Smokey and the Bandit]]'' as she and Burt Reynolds come to Jerry Reed's rescue.

* In ''[[Scott Pilgrim vs. the World]]'', drummers seem to like this gesture.

* The movie adaptation of ''[[Dragnet]]'' had an interrogated suspect flip off Friday and his partner, Pep Streebeck. Streebeck leaves to get coffee, Friday then teaches the thug a lesson in manners.

* [[Hot Fuzz|Nicholas Angel]] does the British variation, accompanied by a raspberry and the phrase "Jog on!" {{spoiler|He picked it up from his partner Danny.}}

* Bialystock and Bloom in the latest ''[[The Producers]]'' respond this way while taking the Siegfried Oath (while Franz isn't looking, of course).

* In ''[[Inception]]'', Yusuf does this to a projection when he drives off the bridge to set off the kick in Fischer's first dream layer.

* The garden gnome in ''[[Project X]]'' has its middle finger raised.

* In ''[[Guardians of the Galaxy]]'', Peter Quill gives this to a couple of Nova Corps members. Despite Disney having the rights to the film, it went uncensored in the films, even as the OBSCENE GESTURE DETECTED alert goes off.

* ''[[Alien vs. Ninja]]'': Mika had a message for the defeated alien.

* During the chase in ''[[6 Underground]]'', Six, who was driving, almost collides with a group of nuns during a car chase. Six hopes they would forgive him for doing that. One of the nuns had this as a response.

 

== [[Literature]] ==

{{quote|'''Nancy:''' We also voted that the restaurant's official bird should be the toucan.

'''Roseanne:''' Would you like to see the bird I voted for? ''(she makes a gesture behind her hand that implies flipping the middle finger)'' }}

* In ''[[Porridge]]'' Fletcher is reading off a list of the things he's learned from his time inside, counting them on fingers as he goes. He forgets to add the third finger until Mackay notices it.

{{quote|'''Fletch:''' All right. I'll just tell him three things. One - bide your time. Two - keep your nose clean. And three - don't let the bastards grind you down. }}

** Lister and the Cat treat Arnold to one in 'Better than Life', and Kryten (trying to figure out what he is after thinking he was in a [[Lotus Eater Machine]] while actually being in one) speculates that he'd be the [[Badass Cop]] who'd give one to [[Da Chief]].

* In ''[[Friends]]'' Ross made an alternative gesture for the finger (banging his fists together) as a child so he could do it in front of his parents.

* As mentioned above, Spike in ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' used the two-finger variant as an eloquent response to Xander's accusatory gesturing when they were struck speechless.

** And next season, [[Getting Crap Past the Radar|that shot made it into the opening credits sequence.]]

 

== [[Music]] ==

** He does it himself in the video for "Amish Paradise" (and, like in "White & Nerdy," is also blurred out for censorship reasons).

* Kevin Rudolf's "Let It Rock":

{{quote|So would the real shady please stand up

and put one of those fingers on each hand up... }}

* "The One in the Middle" by [[Country Music]] singer Sarah Johns:

{{quote|''I would've given you the finger on my left hand

 

== [[Newspaper Comics]] ==

{{quote|'''Dilbert:''' How many digits?

'''Alice:''' I used one on each hand. }}

== [[Video Games]] ==

* "Ah, the middle finger. The most communicative of fingers." - Guybrush Threepwood examines a hand shaped table in ''[[Escape from Monkey Island]]''.

* Your character can do this in ''[[Fable (video game series)|Fable]]'', and in ''[[Fable II]]'' you can have a sculptor make statues of you doing it.

** If you fail the extended expression in the second one you end up [[Epic Fail|poking yourself in the eye]].

* [http://www.gocomics.com/basicinstructions/2009/11/26/ This] ''[[Basic Instructions]]'' strip.

* [http://www.kenzerco.com/images/periodicals/TTC/phpslideshow.php?directory=.¤tPic=0 This] ''[[Fuzzy Knights]]'' strip (click to page through it), which was posted as a response to the 2005 terrorist bombings on the London Underground and made rather appropriate reference to the origin myth.

* Implied in ''[[Freefall]]'' to be [http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff500/fv00475.htm what everyone does] when they "interact" with Sam. That, and [[Genre Savvy|hiding their wallets]].

* Emily is quick to flip off Ash when they first meet in ''[[Misfile]]''.

== [[Real Life]] ==

* When captured by North Korea, the crew of the ship USS ''Pueblo'' were forced to appear in staged propaganda photos. Each man showed the finger in the photos. When pressed, they claimed it was a Hawaiian Good Luck sign. Unfortunately, North Korea was able to read the foreign press and soon discovered the truth.

* An equivalent gesture (called in French the ''bras d'honneur'' or "[[Ironic Name|Arm of Honor]]") is bending your right elbow, clenching your right fist and putting your left hand on your right arm's side opposing that of the elbow. The western variant was also imported into Russia from the West after [[The Great Politics Mess-Up]]. One can combine the arm with the Finger for emphasis.

* On WABC-TV in New York, anchor [[Deadpan Snarker|Roger Grimsby]] introduced a live broadcast from reporter Mara Wolinsky. Mara had been getting trouble from the cameraman and flipped him off just as the live broadcast started. The camera quickly cut back to Grimsby, who said, "Apparently, Mara knows who's number one in New York."

* There was a minor scandal during the last election in Sweden, when the chairman of the Left Party flipped off a leading Conservative during a debate. Luckily, it was not televised. Unluckily, someone had a cellphone camera.

[[Category:Insult Tropes]]

[[Category:Hand Tropes]]