• About
  • Mortgage Basics
  • $40K Challenge
  • Aunt Doris
  • Grandfather Says
  • Privacy
  • Archives
  • 100 Words

Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

A Few Thoughts from Aunt Doris: The Two-Fingered Salute

By Aunt Doris

Winston Churchill saluting the Germans during WWII.

As I’ve said before, the English and Americans do have their differences.

One day, when I was 89-years-old and recovering in the hospital from knee surgery, I noticed an older gentleman using a walker who was passing by my room. Thinking he had the same operation as me I called out, “Looking good!”

He replied with what he thought was the “V” for victory sign. Unfortunately, what he gave me was quite the opposite. So I smiled and said to him, “You probably don’t realize it, but you just gave me the English equivalent of the American one-fingered salute!” (We call it the ‘gentle insult.’)

Startled by my response, he hurried on his way.

The next day, the same gentleman passed by my room, only this time he stopped and gave me a “thumbs up” sign. That made me laugh.

Doris

Aunt Doris

Legend has it that the two-fingered salute started in Medieval times. When English archers were captured, the enemy cut off their two fingers so they could no longer launch their arrows.

So when an able-bodied archer faced the enemy they showed their two fingers, and yelled a couple of choice words to show they were ready for battle.

I’ve often wondered about the origins of the one-fingered salute. Could it have been born in the Wild West as a result of battles between gunslingers?

Probably not, because that’s the wrong finger.

It doesn’t matter. Both salutes are a handy gesture (no pun intended) when you can’t think of the right words to say!

Ta ta for now!

Aunt Doris

***

This is another post in an occasional series from my dear Aunt Doris, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 94. This article was originally published on 22 Feb 2012.

January 13, 2022

Comments

  1. 1

    First Gen American says

    I love aunt doris. What a gift it is to have her stories shared for all to hear. I can see where you get your sense of humor from Len.

    The old man probably thought he was being hit on. I hear that in the nursing homes, the women far outnumber the men, so they get a lot of attention from the ladies.

    • 2

      Monevator says

      Yep, it pays to live long.

      As a British native, I can confirm that Doris would be a hit here, too.

  2. 3

    Tandy says

    You did it again Aunt Doris! What a great way to start my day. I so love your stories. Please keep them coming!

  3. 4

    Jack says

    You learn something new every day. I guess I’ll be more careful with my hand gestures the next time I find myself in London and I want 2 orders of fish and chips.

  4. 5

    PK says

    Aunt Doris,

    What do you think about Adele and M.I.A. giving the one-fingered version of the two finger salute on television lately? Refreshing or obnoxious?

  5. 6

    DollarDisciple says

    It’s funny how insults evolve over time! That guys probably had no idea.

  6. 7

    DC says

    Watching Red Dwarf in the early 1990’s taught me the two-finger salute, when occasionally a skutter (a one-armed maintenance ‘bot) would give Arnold Rimmer a richly deserved salute. 🙂

    Another unintentional insult (I think this is still true today): If you are in Italy, don’t pick at your teeth with your thumb. You just might be “biting your thumb” at someone who will take offense.

    —

    Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
    I do bite my thumb, sir.
    Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
    No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir.

  7. 8

    Shilpan says

    Funny, how same gesture gets interpreted differently in different countries.

  8. 9

    Doable Finance says

    The salute of two fingers can be interpreted differently in different societies.

  9. 10

    Rita Senkowski says

    Have read aunt Doris’s stories and they are great, to bad she did not write a book.
    you can learn a lot from her and she is quite a story teller.. Love to read good wisdom, we have so little of it today. Rest in peace dear lady, hope she is telling her stories to the angels. Rita S

  10. 11

    bill says

    There are many such photos of Churchill giving the Germans the two finger salute. You can even buy them on coffee mugs.

    I miss the stories of your Aunt Doris, Len. She was more alive than most people will ever be. She told me her secret was not eating fruitcake.

    • 12

      Len Penzo says

      She was an amazing woman who was full of life!

      (And I’m sure avoiding fruitcake didn’t hurt.)

Trackbacks

  1. A Few Thoughts From Aunt Doris: Losing Streaks and Winning Ways - Len Penzo dot Com says:
    February 6, 2018 at 4:16 am

    […] of friends! I particularly loved the reply from commenter Jack who, after reading my story about Britain’s two-fingered salute, told me that the next time he was in England he was going to be extra careful when asking for two […]

  2. Len Penzo dot Com: Celebrating 10 Years and 10 Million Page Views! – Len Penzo dot Com says:
    December 16, 2018 at 6:48 pm

    […] shared their personal posts here over the years — both young and old — including my dear Aunt Doris, a nonagenarian who shared her wit and sense of humor in more than a dozen terrific contributions […]

  3. A Memorial Day Tribute from Aunt Doris: Shaken — Not Stirred – Len Penzo dot Com says:
    December 26, 2018 at 9:17 am

    […] working at a big government building in Kensington. We “carried on” — even though they bombed us day and night for […]

  4. A Few Thoughts from Aunt Doris: To Be or Not to Be? – Len Penzo dot Com says:
    December 26, 2018 at 9:18 am

    […] 92 and never really fully recovered from my stroke, I had to give up my driver’s license, which was the biggest blow of […]

  5. A Few Thoughts from Aunt Doris: The Same … But Different – Len Penzo dot Com says:
    December 26, 2018 at 9:21 am

    […] like there are difference between American and English hand gestures, our languages are slightly different too. There’s the matter of […]

The Question of the Week:

What is the minimum annual income you need to be truly happy?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Recent Posts

  • Black Coffee: Welcome to the Fun House
  • A Georgia Teacher Shows Why It Always Pays to Read the Fine Print
  • Why Extended Warranties Sometimes Do Make Sense
  • 10 Ways to Get the Most from Your Next Business Conference
  • 36 Amazing Uses for Plastic Grocery Bags
  • Black Coffee: A Ponzi for Your Thoughts
  • Grandfather Says: The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 6
  • What You Must Know Before Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
  • Million Dollar Neighborhoods Are Still Popping Up Across the US
  • Why Extended Warranties for New Tires Are A Waste of Money

Disclaimer

This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and the content herein should not be mistaken for professional financial advice. In fact, making investment decisions based on information published here, or any other website for that matter, is more than unwise; it is folly. This website accepts advertising in the form of monetary and other compensation; as such, topics of discussion are occasionally influenced by these advertisers. Sometimes, an article may also include affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, this blog earns a commission if you click through and make a purchase (for example, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases). Remember, you and you alone are responsible for the decisions you make in life, so please contact an independent financial professional for advice regarding your unique personal situation.

Sign up for the weekly Len Penzo dot Com newsletter
Len Penzo dot Com Delivered Weekly
Join more than 40,000 readers and fans who enjoy personal finance and macroeconomics with an offbeat twist!
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing!

Popular Now:

  1. 1. Scientists Say This Clever Trick Can Help You Break Your Overspending Habit
  2. 2. 4 Online Shopping Mistakes You’re Making and How to Avoid Them
  3. 3. When Is the Right Time to Use Your Wealth Insurance (Gold & Silver)?
  4. 4. Dear Friend: Here Are 41 Reasons Why I’m Not Lending You the Money
  5. 5. Home Repair Scams: Here Are the 9 Biggest
  6. 6. Trying to Save Money on Gas? Here’s Proof That Driving Out of Your Way Rarely Helps
  7. 7. How I Fought My Parking Ticket and Beat City Hall
  8. 8. Are You Frugal or Cheap? Here’s How to Know the Difference
  9. 9. Historical Gold & Silver Benchmarks for Wages and Commodities
  10. 10. 4 Good Reasons Why Some Quarters Are Painted Red

All-Time Most Popular:

  1. 1. 19 Things Your Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You
  2. 2. Dear Friend: Here Are 41 Reasons Why I’m NOT Lending the Money
  3. 3. Why Your Expensive Luxury Car Doesn’t Impress Smart People
  4. 4. If You Can’t Live on $40,000 Annually It’s Your Own Fault
  5. 5. 21 Reasons Why Corner Lots Are for Suckers
  6. 6. 4 Smart Reasons Why College Isn’t for Everyone
  7. 7. 18 Fast Facts About Social Security Numbers
  8. 8. My Ketchup Taste Test: Upset! Guess Which Brand Topped Heinz
  9. 9. Why I Prefer a Spreadsheet to Track Expenses and Manage My Finances
  10. 10. Here’s a Simple Trick for Getting Credit Card Interest Charges Waived

Copyright © 2023 Len Penzo dot Com · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media

© Len Penzo dot Com 2008–2023