Bras d'honneur

A "bras d'honneur" (in French language) is an obscene gesture. An arm is bent to make an L-shape. The other hand then grips the inner side of the bent arm's elbow. The bent forearm is then raised vertically in a gesturing motion. It has the same meaning as giving the finger (known as "le doigt d'honneur"), though this particular usage is often connotated as relating to the phrase "Up Yours". Occasionally, the middle finger of the bent arm is also raised to add emphasis.

Cultural References

In the 2004 film "Mean Girls", Lizzy Caplan's character Janis Ian makes this sign at Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) in the sports hall scene.

In the video game GTA3 the protagonist Claude displays this sign if he is hit or almost hit by a car.

In the movie Dodgeball, a character displays the gesture.

In the game Postal 2 the civilians of Paradise City will display this sign when they refuse to sign your petition, and calling you a "Freaking Pinko".

In Brazil, the sign is known as a "banana" and carries the same connotation as giving someone the finger.

In some South American countries it is called "corte de mangas" (sleeve-cut) with the same meaning.

The gesture is known in Poland as "gest Kozakiewicza" ("Kozakiewicz's gesture") after Władysław Kozakiewicz, who famously displayed this gesture after winning the gold medal in the pole vault at the 1980 Summer Olympics in front of a hostile, jeering crowd in Moscow.

External links

* [http://french.about.com/library/weekly/aa020901u.htm French gestures on About.com]