10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «GIVE SOMEONE THE BIRD»
Discover the use of
give someone the bird in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to
give someone the bird and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Speaking of Animals: A Dictionary of Animal Metaphors
Compare Give Someone Free Rein. GIVE SOMEONE THE BIRD to give
someone the bird. To hiss at someone (HOI: 1859); to give someone the "
razzberry" (WNNCD: ca. 1919); to give someone the "finger." Source: BIRD.
WNNCD: O.E. The ...
Robert Allen Palmatier, 1995
2
A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English
Lewis cites E.R. Wilson, that nigh the most wonderful of all slow bowlers, as using
the phrase in 1920. give (someone) the bird. To dismiss (a person), send him
about his business: late C.19—20. Ex theatre. See bird, n., 5, and get the bird.-2.
3
Idiomatic Expressions with English Grammar' 99 Ed.
GIVE THE RASPBERRY GIVE SOMEONE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT GIVE
SOMEONE THE BIRD GIVE SOMEONE THE BUM'S RUSH GIVE SOMEONE
THE GATE GIVE SOMEONE THE GREEN LIGHT GIVE SOMEONE THE HEAVE-
HO ...
4
Chabers 21st Century Dictionary
See also give someone the bird 2 below. 5 colloq, old use a person, especially a
strange or unusual one a He's a funny old bird. • birder noun a birdwatcher. •
birding noun BIRDWATCHING. • birds of a feather Brit colloq people who are like
...
5
Chambers concise dictionary
4 (the bird) US slang an obscene gesture of contempt, dismissal or defiance, etc,
using a raised middle finger. See also GIVE SOMEONE THE BIRD below. 5
colloq, old use a person, especially a strange or unusual one • He's a funny old
bird.
6
The Chambers Dictionary
... clustered pods like birds' feet; birds of a feather see under feather; do bird (
slung; sec bird n. above) to serve a prison sentence; (strictly) for the birds (slang)
not to be taken seriously, of little value; get (or give someone) the bird (ie the
goose; ...
7
Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang
2 Esp. in the phrases to get the bird, give (someone) the bird: a orig theatrical A
show of disapproval by an audience, esp. in the form of hissing. 1884–. P.G.
WODEHOUSE Would a Rudge audience have given me the bird a few years ago
?
John Ayto, John Simpson, 2010
8
The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
... Juno. give someone the bird is to boo or jeer at someone. Earlier (early 19th
century) in theatrical slang as the big bird, meaning a goose, because an
audience's hissing an unpopular act or actor could be compared with the hissing
of geese ...
9
Advanced Learner's Dictionary
D idioms: a little bird told me used to refer to an undisclosable or unofficial source
of information: A little bird told me you were changing your job! give someone the
bird to send someone away in a rude manner; jeer ruddy at a performer, ...
U .jjk tfOjl J* >-Ujlj flip someone the bird flip someone off give someone the bird
one-finger salute jy j» (UlP Ja-pjSlI) AA-^I jliaj He's really rude. He flipped me the
bird. ^U~Jl JP j-ieS c£j>-Sll 4~U*i i float someone 's boat .<«__? b •;_- JLoJ .
