steve mcqueens two finger salute? | FerrariChat

steve mcqueens two finger salute?

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by Ryan S., Apr 28, 2004.

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  1. Ryan S.

    Ryan S. Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 20, 2004
    26,630
    whats the story behind this. I see this pic every where, so i was just wondering.

    Thanks for the help,
    Ryan
     
  2. DrStranglove

    DrStranglove FChat Assassin
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    #2 DrStranglove, Apr 29, 2004
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  3. PSk

    PSk F1 World Champ

    Nov 20, 2002
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    Pete
    The Le Mans movie he made. He makes this gesture at the end of the film ...

    Pete
     
  4. rennen

    rennen Karting

    Nov 1, 2003
    139
    New York
    It's the symbol for Victory.
     
  5. ninyo

    ninyo Rookie

    Nov 17, 2003
    27
    If I remember right, that sign means **** off in Italy or England. Don't remember which country of the two it was. He face expression sure looks like he says "**** off". But I haven't seen the Le Mans movie so..
     
  6. Z0RR0

    Z0RR0 F1 Rookie

    Apr 11, 2004
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    Julien
    not quite sure it means **** off in england ... it was born back when archers where the big hits in the army ... brits were good at it and showed the 2 fingers (that pulled the cord) to their enemies to "threaten" them ... or something to that effect. Sounds more like victory.
     
  7. Ferrari_co_uk

    Ferrari_co_uk Karting

    Apr 16, 2003
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    Mark Langfield
    If it's done the other way round!

    Best
    Mark
     
  8. Il'inglese

    Il'inglese Karting

    Dec 6, 2003
    55
    Way back in the day - archers on the losing side of a battle were known to have their middle and index fingers chopped off by the victors.. So.. if you still had them, the two-finger V salute came to be a symbol for Victory and "up-yours!" 8^)

    This is the short version I heard - there is more a lot more history - the development of the long bow, the Tea Bags beating up on the Frogs, and Steve McQueen racing in France.
     
  9. Ferrari_co_uk

    Ferrari_co_uk Karting

    Apr 16, 2003
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    Mark Langfield
    The French would cut off these two fingers of any archer that was captured during battle, to obviously stop them from being able to use a bow and arrow again.

    So, to wind up the French at the start of a battle the archers would show these two fingers to show they still had them!

    Best
    Mark
     
  10. maranelloman

    maranelloman Guest

    #10 maranelloman, Apr 29, 2004
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017

    The French??

    In BATTLE??


    ????????????????????
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  11. robinh

    robinh Formula Junior

    Jan 3, 2004
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    Cambridgeshire, Engl
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    Robin
    In England, the picture of Steve is usually taken to mean F*** OFF or some other similar meaning. Aas stated in this thread it came from the English Longbow men who would raise this salute to the enemy (usually the French) to basically say 'you're f*cked' as the longbow was a seriously dangerous weapon in those days and mandatory training for all Englishmen every Sunday after church - by law.

    If you raise two fingers but with the palm of your hand facing outwards rather than the back of the hand (as with the picture) it is the sign for victory. It was used extensively by Winston Churchill during WWII.

    It is not a good idea in the UK to mix the two sign up as the meaning is so radically different
     
  12. Napolis

    Napolis Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Oct 23, 2002
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    Jim Glickenhaus
    "A French Kiss With Death" a great book about the making of the movie LeMans goes into it.
     
  13. DrStranglove

    DrStranglove FChat Assassin
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    Fukcer beat me to it!!!!!!


    Remember the greatest prisoners ever held by the French were, no surprise, French.

    Napoleon
    Louis VI
    Man in the Mask
    Dumas

    ect.
     
  14. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 6, 2002
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    Bubba
    French Kiss with Death and the video should be required items of any sports car enthusiast!

    The Museum of Fine Arts here did a screening of the movie from a clean print, and had that book for sale at the same time!

    Needless to say, both I and my favorite Ferrari technician have a copy! ;)
    I think he has the faded poster on the wall at the shop!
     
  15. redjeeper

    redjeeper Formula Junior

    Nov 4, 2003
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    Flowood, MS
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    Anthony Griffin
    Stranglove, I like the explanation you gave. :)
     
  16. Ferrari_co_uk

    Ferrari_co_uk Karting

    Apr 16, 2003
    245
    London, UK
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    Mark Langfield
    Snopes seems to be getting confused between the middle finger salute and two fingure salute. I hadn't heard the 'Pluck yew' theory before, sounds fishy as I thought the two finger salute meant 'up yours'!

    Best
    Mark
     

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