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The V-sign

The Basics

The nation’s favourite way of signalling to others that they could possibly find more constructive things to do than annoying us is a gesture dignified by history, if nothing else. An entertaining myth that it derived from longbowmen showing the marauding French that they still had the use of their lethal drawing fingers has endured, but it is doubtless time to give it the two-fingered salute.

v sign silhouette
The V-sign changes its meaning entirely if the hand is reversed, when it becomes the V for Victory with which, among other things, Sir Winston Churchill kept the country defiant in its darkest hour.

Internationally, the gesture has given ground to the American one-fingered salute when it comes to letting another person know that they have delighted us enough. As a symbol of pride, peace or determination to overcome insuperable odds, though, two fingers are still required. Just remember to get your hand the right way round, as Sir Winston often didn’t…