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# flip the bird

phrase (verb phrase: flip the bird, flips, flipped, flipping the bird; also «give someone the finger»; mainly US)

«flip the bird» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (slang, rude gesture) to raise your middle finger at someone as a very rude insult.
2. (figurative) to openly show contempt or defiance.

### In the lessons

Slang name for a rude hand sign; the phrase itself is informal but the gesture is offensive everywhere. US mainly, also Canada and Australia; heard in news, films and among teens. In the UK a two-finger sign («the V-sign») is the old equivalent.

### Examples

- The angry driver flipped the bird at the bus.
- He got sent off for flipping the bird at the crowd.
- Don't flip the bird at anyone; it's very rude.
- The newspaper blurred out the player flipping the bird.
- She flipped the bird at the camera and got into trouble.
- The band seemed to flip the bird at the music industry by releasing the album for free.
- Flipping the bird to a teacher can get you suspended.
- In some countries, flipping the bird can even get you fined.

### Note

Trap: nothing to do with birds. The gesture is rude everywhere; the phrase is a slangy way to describe it. Plain meaning: made a rude finger gesture.