In the middle ages, when kingdoms were constantly fighting, a popular weapon to fight with was the bow. Basically all I’m saying is the middle finger plays such a big role in our daily lives yet we have no idea why. Rocking out at a metal show or tossing up hook 'em horns (with your hand in a fist and index and pinky fingers extended) is a bad idea in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, and Colombia. Arizona State University Sun Devil fans make a pitchfork sign by extending the index and middle fingers, as well as the pinky. I bet I may even get blocked writing it. It’s often caused by an accident or a medical condition like carpal tunnel. Finger pain is a throbbing, cramplike, or achy pain that’s felt in any of your fingers or your thumb. The thumb holds down the ring finger to complete the gesture. The 'middle finger salute' is derived from the defiant gestures of English archers whose fingers had been severed by the French at the Battle of Agincourt. Turkey: An obscene gesture similar to the middle finger, and is also used to show disagreement or to deny a request. In these countries, the University of Texas' signature hand gesture can be used to indicate that someone's wife has been unfaithful. When prisoners were captured their middle fingers were cut off. There’s nothing inherently bad about putting the letters f, u, c and k together but for some reason at one point in history, somebody was just like, “nope, can’t do that anymore”. But make the same gesture in Brazil, and you're giving the equivalent to the middle finger — the gesture has "insulting and scatological connotations," as the New York Times put it. The middle finger is the penis and the curled fingers on either side are the testicles. And by “we” I mean “me”. It is definitely a matter of opinion. The proper way to shoot an medieval arrow with a bow was with the middle finger. America: The thumb between the index and middle fingers represents the nose stolen from a kid’s face in the “I’ve Got Your Nose” game. The gesture is made by crossing your middle finger over your pointer. That is, if you live in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. or Australia. If you really, really want to wish someone good luck, you might tell them you'll cross all of your fingers and your toes, too. The middle finger's offensive meaning seems to have overtaken cultural, linguistic and national boundaries and can now be seen at protests, on football pitches, and at rock concerts across the world. The pinky and index fingers are extended but a little more parallel to each other resembling the horns on a demon. Brazil: A good … Raising your middle finger to someone means “Fuck you.” Is that phrase bad? Meaning that it isn’t up to them to decide, many Arabs will point a single finger up into the air to express that whatever is being discussed is up to the heavens to decide. Some people cringe when they hear the word fuck. By doing it, you are offering someone a phallic gesture.