Dictionary

middle-finger en · VERB

Etymology

Denominal verb of middle finger.

Meanings

1. (slang, transitive, uncommon) To show the middle finger (an obscene gesture directed towards another as an insult) to (someone or something).
   • A couple of young lads eyed them venomously and middle-fingered the car. 2019, Nick Oldham, chapter 14, in Wildfire (A Henry Christie Thriller; 26), London: Severn House Publishers, published 2020, →ISBN:
   • Someone blocked me from nowhere. Ok, screw off, middle-fingered the screen and went my way. 2026 February 11, u/TooCareless2Care, r/BadRPerStories (Reddit post), archived from the original on 31 May 2026:
   • Gingrich, in effect, has middle-fingered his pal, Limbaugh, by "faking" a more friendly image. It's obvious Newtee is attempting to "buy" women's emotions, and if it were more obvious, it'd be a stain on your eyeball! BUT REMEMBER .. a leopard can't change its spots, and Newtee's spots are more than skin deep! 1997 March 12, GrandBlu 2, “Gingrich 2 Limbaugh:"Screw you, it's bipartisan I'll be!"”, in alt.fan.rush-limbaugh (Usenet), archived from the original on 31 May 2026:
   • The driver middle fingered his rear-view mirror then he drove off. 2002 October 8, Jim Kohl, chapter 16, in One Truth at a Time, Lincoln, Neb.: Writers Club Press, →ISBN, page 107:
   • “Outta the way, dipstick.” He middle-fingered the driver of a Mazda, who was hogging the passing lane, then zipped past, horn blaring, fist raised. 2000, Douglas H. Young, chapter 45, in Downsized-Upsized: A Novel, Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.: New Directions Publishing House, →ISBN, page 311:
   • A Chinese speed-skater was banned from competition for a year for middle-fingering the audience, but this is actually a sign of the country's liberalism: The last athletes disciplined for poor sportsmanship (in 2006) were sent to military boot camp. 2009 January 7, Chuck Shepherd, “News of the Weird Daily for Wednesday”, in DailyWeird (Google Groups), archived from the original on 31 May 2026:

Forms