give the finger

Idioms  

1. Make an obscene gesture by closing one's fist and extending one's middle finger upward, generally interpreted as fuck you. For example, Herb has a dangerous habit of giving the finger to motorists who cut in front of him. Although from about 1890 to 1920 this term was used in the sense of “disappoint or snub someone,” that meaning seems to have died out. [Second half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

Any woman hoping to cut her hair short, wear no make-up, or start lifting weights may as well go all the way and grow a third hand to give the finger to the Men With Opinions while she gets on with her day.

From The Guardian

So here was a chance to give the finger to the Man, while still hoping our kid gets into his supposedly law-breaking college.

From Washington Post

When you give the finger to your bosses on national TV, I would call that a bad decision.

From Seattle Times

"I think many voters feel fed up, they want to give the finger to the big parties," says Ola Karlsson, who leads the Moderates in this part of Sweden.

From BBC

Republicans’ denial of political calculus is belied by emails, discovered in a separate lawsuit challenging the districts, in which GOP aides suggest ways to contain “Dem garbage” to four congressional districts and chortle over shaping one district to give “the finger” to a Democratic congressman.

From Washington Post