<P> In Western culture, the finger or the middle finger (as in giving someone the (middle) finger or the bird or flipping someone off) is an obscene hand gesture . The gesture communicates moderate to extreme contempt, and is roughly equivalent in meaning to "fuck off", "fuck you," "shove it up your ass / arse," "up yours," or "go fuck yourself ." It is performed by showing the back of a hand that has only the middle finger extended upwards, though in some locales, the thumb is extended . Extending the finger is considered a symbol of contempt in several cultures, especially in the West . Many cultures use similar gestures to display their disrespect, although others use it to express pointing without intentional disrespect toward other cultures . The gesture is usually used to express contempt but can also be used humorously or playfully . </P> <P> The gesture dates back to Ancient Greece and it was also used in Ancient Rome . Historically, it represented the phallus . In some modern cultures, it has gained increasing recognition as a sign of disrespect, and has been used by music artists (notably more common among hardcore punk bands and rappers), actors, celebrities, athletes, and politicians . Most still view the gesture as obscene . The index finger and ring finger besides the middle finger in more contemporary periods has been likened to represent the testes . </P> <P> The middle finger gesture was used in ancient times as a symbol of sexual intercourse, in a manner meant to degrade, intimidate and threaten the individual receiving the gesture . It also represented the phallus, with the fingers next to the middle finger representing testicles; from its close association, the gesture may have assumed apotropaic potency . In the 1st - century Mediterranean world, extending the finger was one of many methods used to divert the ever - present threat of the evil eye . </P>

Where did the expression flipping the bird come from