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# the one-finger salute

phrase (noun phrase, «the one-finger salute»; also «giving someone the finger»)

«the one-finger salute» 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. (euphemism, humorous) a very rude hand sign: raising the middle finger at someone as an insult.
2. (literal, rare) a salute with one finger.

### In the lessons

A jokey, polite way to name the rude gesture without doing or describing it plainly; used in news reports, sport commentary and gossip in all English-speaking countries. The gesture itself is offensive and pupils should not make it.

### Examples

- (news) The driver gave the photographers the one-finger salute.
- (sport) The player was fined for a one-finger salute to the crowd.
- (gossip) He drove off with a one-finger salute.
- (teacher) That's the one-finger salute, and it's very rude — don't do it.
- (chat) got the one-finger salute from a cyclist this morning
- (report) Officers said the man responded with a one-finger salute.

### Note

Trap: it is not a real salute; it is an insult. The words are safe to say, the gesture is not. In the UK a similar insult uses two fingers in a V with the back of the hand outward: «the two-fingered salute».