give (one) the bird

1. To raise the middle finger (a rude gesture of anger or displeasure) at one. The phrase "flip (one) the bird" is also commonly used. What are you giving me the bird for, I didn't even say anything insulting! I gave my brother the bird after he said that he'd never seen a worse basketball player than me. The player got in trouble when cameras caught him giving an opponent the bird.

2. To boo or otherwise vocalize disapproval of a performer or athlete. The crowd gave that player the bird after he dropped the ball. The band sounded so terrible that the audience promptly gave them the bird. I'm not surprised the fans gave him the bird—he allowed three goals to start the game!

give someone the bird

mainly AMERICAN

1. If someone gives you the bird, they make a rude and offensive gesture with one hand, with their middle finger pointing up and their other fingers bent over in a fist. Chip took a break from telling various adoring females how beautiful their eyes were to surreptitiously give Alex the bird.

2. If an audience gives an entertainer or sports player the bird, they shout at them to show their disapproval of them. He made a couple of mistakes and the crowd immediately gave him the bird. Note: You can also say that the entertainer or sports player gets the bird. Eddie had once been top of the bill. And then one evening, he got the bird.

give someone (or get) the bird

boo or jeer at someone (or be booed or jeered at). British informal

This phrase first appeared in early 19th-century theatrical slang as the big bird , meaning ‘a goose’. This was because the hissing of geese could be compared to the audience's hissing at an act or actor of which it disapproved.

flip/give/shoot somebody the ˈbird

(American English, slang) make a rude sign at somebody with your middle finger

See also: bird, flip, give, shoot, somebody

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