3 ms·

You've piqued my curiosity; what did you think meant 2 that they thought meant 3?

by jerf 5y ago

tyingq 5y ago
I did index+middle for 2. They would do thumb+index for 2, and thumb+index+middle for 3. They didn't do index+middle for anything other than maybe "peace sign". So from a distance, my "2" would look like "3" to them. It was a rural area in Germany, in the late 80's, early 90's.
- dylan604 5y ago
  Index + middle in an upward movement would probably be taken as something other than peace
  - kubanczyk 5y ago
    No, not likely in 90s in Germany. What you're describing is primarily a UK gesture. (Wikipedia says also known in Ireland, South Africa, Australia, India, etc.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_sign#As_an_insult https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_sign#As_an_insult
    - dylan604 5y ago
      I'm in the US and I'm aware of it (granted most 'muricans are not). I'd be willing to wager Europeans would be much more aware of the meaning than what you're suggesting.
    - tyingq 5y ago
      Agree...I never encountered anyone thinking I was throwing that insult.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
  - kergonath 5y ago
    No. Outside the U.K. and Ireland, nobody would take that for an insult unless you also use rude language or body language. I actually use it every now and then, for example ordering 2 beers at a bar.
    - lsllc 5y ago
      Depends on which way round your hand is -- V with folded fingers/palm facing out, it's the peace/victory sign. V with back of the hand/knuckles facing out would the insult -- supposedly originating from English archers insulting the French at the battle of Agincourt. According to legend, the French would cut off the index & ring fingers from captured English soldiers so they couldn't draw their bow string. So the English would wave the two fingers in the V formation in the general direction of the French in order to insult them! At least that's the legend anyway ... https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803120300620 https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20...
professorsnep 5y ago
I assume holding index and middle fingers up. With the German way of counting, usually the thumb would be up as well, meaning 3, so it's easily mistaken as a 3 despite only having two fingers up.

You've piqued my curiosity; what did you think meant 2 that they thought meant 3?

by jerf 5y ago

You've piqued my curiosity; what did you think meant 2 that they thought meant 3?

I did index+middle for 2. They would do thumb+index for 2, and thumb+index+middle for 3. They didn't do index+middle for anything other than maybe "peace sign". So from a distance, my "2" would look like "3" to them. It was a rural area in Germany, in the late 80's, early 90's.

dylan604 5y ago
Index + middle in an upward movement would probably be taken as something other than peace
- kubanczyk 5y ago
  No, not likely in 90s in Germany. What you're describing is primarily a UK gesture. (Wikipedia says also known in Ireland, South Africa, Australia, India, etc.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_sign#As_an_insult https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_sign#As_an_insult
  - dylan604 5y ago
    I'm in the US and I'm aware of it (granted most 'muricans are not). I'd be willing to wager Europeans would be much more aware of the meaning than what you're suggesting.
  - tyingq 5y ago
    Agree...I never encountered anyone thinking I was throwing that insult.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- kergonath 5y ago
  No. Outside the U.K. and Ireland, nobody would take that for an insult unless you also use rude language or body language. I actually use it every now and then, for example ordering 2 beers at a bar.
  - lsllc 5y ago
    Depends on which way round your hand is -- V with folded fingers/palm facing out, it's the peace/victory sign. V with back of the hand/knuckles facing out would the insult -- supposedly originating from English archers insulting the French at the battle of Agincourt. According to legend, the French would cut off the index & ring fingers from captured English soldiers so they couldn't draw their bow string. So the English would wave the two fingers in the V formation in the general direction of the French in order to insult them! At least that's the legend anyway ... https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803120300620 https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20...

professorsnep 5y ago

I assume holding index and middle fingers up. With the German way of counting, usually the thumb would be up as well, meaning 3, so it's easily mistaken as a 3 despite only having two fingers up.