The "German finger" refers to distinct ways Germans count on their fingers (starting with the thumb for '1') and gesture, most famously the Schwurhand (oath hand) with the index and middle fingers extended for oaths, and ordering drinks by holding up the thumb, index, and middle fingers for three, unlike Anglo-Saxon use of the index, middle, and ring fingers. The gesture for ordering 'three' became famous in Inglourious Basterds as a way a spy was identified.
In English for “three” the sign is with the index, middle and ring fingers, and in German it's with the thumb, index and middle fingers. 🎥: Inglourious Basterds (2009)
The gesture is usually used to express contempt but can also be used humorously or playfully. The gesture dates back to ancient Greece and it was also used in ancient Rome. Historically, it represented a phallus.
During the tavern scene in Inglourious Basterds, the detail of Michael Fassbender holding up “three” fingers wasn't just scripted for tension, Tarantino and Fassbender actually researched authentic British vs. German hand gestures from the WWII era to get it right.
1. The Middle Finger in Germany. Much like in many other countries, the act of flipping someone the middle finger in Germany, often referred to as “flipping the bird,” is highly offensive. This gesture is extremely rude and disrespectful, and can lead to serious confrontations, especially in professional settings.
Raising two fingers in a 'V' shifted in meaning from 'Victory' to 'Peace. ' Track the change from World War II to the Vietnam War eras. Elizabeth Yuko. Winston Churchill gives his famous victory sign on VE Day, 1945.
Siebenhundertsiebenundsiebzigtausendsiebenhundertsiebenundsiebzig (seven hundred and seventy-seven thousand, seven hundred and seventy-seven) Talk about your lucky sevens! This massive, 65-letter word is the number 777,777 in German.
#FunFactFriday: Did you know Germans and Brits signal the number three with their hands completely differently? In Germany, counting begins with the thumb, so 'three' is thumb + index + middle finger. In the UK, people almost never use the thumb: they show 'three' with index + middle + ring finger instead.
What's the Devil Horn Hand Sign? The sign of the Horned Hand is a typical Italian gesture where the index and pinky fingers are raised (while the other three fingers are kept low) to symbolize a pair of horns that would drive away bad luck and the malevolent eye of fate.
Interacting with the Three Fingers causes Melina to leave permanently, vowing to kill the player Tarnished. However, the player can bypass her sacrifice by using the Fingers' flame as kindling to awaken the Flame of Ruin at the Forge of the Giants and commit the Cardinal Sin.
The 🤙 emoji officially means “call me” or “hit me up.” But this emoji is much more commonly used as the shaka emoji, which means “hang loose.” Use this friendly and ~super chill~ emoji to express some laid-back and lighthearted energy. Example Text: “Can't wait to get the gang together later 🤙”
The story goes that it was an English soldier's way of taunting the French during the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. Supposedly, English longbowmen would put their two fingers up to show they hadn't been captured by the French and had those fingers removed, rendering them unable to shoot arrows.
It was around 2,500 years ago that the naughty Greeks developed a phallic gesture to offend, taunt and literally poke each other. While throwing up a middle finger today clearly communicates a resounding “f**k you,” in classical society, historians say a middle finger was more of a ribald sexual reference.
In Inglourious Basterds, Hicox orders three drinks using a finger combination unfamiliar to Germans—raising his ring finger instead of his thumb. That tiny detail gives him away. Cultural differences can sometimes save a life… or end one. Tarantino's attention to this subtle cue makes the scene unforgettable.
The list of penalties for insulting people in Germany reads like a classic Mastercard advert. Displaying your middle finger to a fellow motorist: €600 to €4,000. Using the informal version of the word “you” to a police officer: €600.
It's not the devil's sign like we're here with the devil. It's an Italian thing I got from my Grandmother called the "Malocchio". It's to ward off the Evil Eye or to give the Evil Eye, depending on which way you do it.
The gesture was devised by Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy as a salute for the alien Vulcan species, and is popular within the science fiction fandom and nerd culture. The blessing phrase "live long and prosper" (written by Theodore Sturgeon) is frequently spoken alongside it.
What's the difference between the “I love you” and “Horns” Hand Signs? The “I love you” sign (🤟) is made by extending the thumb, too. The devil horns hand sign (🤘) and the “I love you” sign (🤟) look very similar, so it's normal to mix these two gestures up.
In Germany, they use this expression to wish someone good luck. It is often also accompanied by someone raising their fists and showing you that they are literally pressing their thumbs for you.
A German would have ordered “three” with the index, middle finger, and thumb extended. Have a look at this short video where people around the world show how they count with their fingers.
When an Italian pinches the fingers of one hand together and moves the hand quickly, they are asking ma che vuoi? (“What do you want?”). This gesture conveys exasperation or frustration and adds emphasis to the annoyance. Depending on the context, this gesture can also mean “What are you doing?” or “What's going on?”
World War I origins
That routine quickly got boring and started seeming meaningless to them. Another origin theory is that the 08/15 guns had a low quality due to their mass production in World War I – therefore nowadays, 08/15 can also be used to describe something that is lacking in quality or substance.
Technically speaking, the longest word in English is “Methionylthreonylthreonylglutaminylarginyl… isoleucine”. That's the scientific name for the largest protein in the human body, scientifically known as 'titin,' made up of over 190,000 letters. Yep, you heard that right!
"Backpfeifengesicht" isn't a bad word per se, but it's a colloquial and somewhat humorous insult. It translates to “a face that needs a slap” and is used to describe someone with an annoying or smug face. It's offensive but more cheeky than outright vulgar.