Why do we call it flipping the bird

This article was published more than 9 years ago. Some information may no longer be current. Madonna performs during the halftime show with Nicki Minaj L and M. You didn't have to watch the Super Bowl to learn about rapper MIA's middle-fingered salute during Madonna's performance Sunday — the internet was quick to light up with criticism from moralizers and push-back from those who took it in stride.

Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group. Create a free Team What is Teams? Learn more. What's the origin of "flipping the bird"? Ask Question. Asked 9 years, 6 months ago. Active 6 years, 10 months ago. Viewed k times. Improve this question. Thanks to the answers, I now understand the question. The gesture is known to me through exposure to American media, but I had never heard the phrase and had no idea of its meaning.

All Rights Reserved. Radbourn is first from the left in the standing row, giving the finger over his teammate's shoulder. Features History Middle Finger. Share This Story. Sign up for Complex notifications for breaking news and stories. Flipping the bird is a funny gesture expressed in a number of amusing ways.

Some people, for instance, like to blow into their closed fist as the middle finger slowly rises as if it is being inflated. Whichever way strikes your fancy, you should know you are not alone.

The Greek philosopher Diogenes, born in Sinope in BC, was one of the founders of Cynicism—and a bit of a troublemaker from the start. As he got older, Diogenes developed a flair for irritating others with stunts such as the time he walked around with a lit-lamp in broad daylight. According to anthropologist Desmond Morris, the gesture is essentially phallic, with the curled fingers on either side representing the testicles and the raised finger you are presenting to your foe is the penis.