The phrase "flipping the bird" originates from the 1860s with the expression "giving the big bird," referring to hissing at someone like a goose.
This theatrical insult later evolved through vaudeville slang to mean greeting someone with boos and catcalls.
The middle finger gesture itself is much older, with ancient Greek references to a phallic gesture for insult and defiance.
The phrase "flip the bird" gained popularity in the 1960s, being used in the 1967 Grateful Dead concert review.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Early origins: The phrase "giving the big bird" emerged in 19th-century Britain, referring to hissing at someone on stage, similar to the hissing of an angry goose.
if i had to guess.. id say its a variation of the 2 finger salute..
the french used to cut the fingers off archers from english they captured as an insult the english would wave their 2 arrow fingers at the french as to say ''still got em'...
