Definition of the word two fingers

The phrase "two fingers" originated as a slang expression with connotations of derision or contempt. The term "two finger salute" was first coined during World War II by the British forces to describe the gesture made by the Indian National Congress leader Mahatma Gandhi, who was known for his non-violence resistance movement against British colonial rule in India. Gandhiji's name for the gesture was "namaskar," or "I bow to you," but the British soldiers who witnessed it and interpreted it as a flat-handed, two-fingered salute remarked that it seemed more like a gesture of disrespect or contempt, and hence the term "two-finger salute" became popular among them. However, the expression has since evolved and nowadays, "two fingers" generally signifies making an obscene gesture by extending two fingers, especially the middle finger and the index finger, together to signify insult, disrespect or disapproval towards someone or something. This usage emerged in the latter half of the 20th century and became a part of several English-speaking communities' slang vocabulary. Despite its origins, the rude meaning of "two fingers" has now absorbed its disparaging connotation from the British soldiers' term, making it a globally recognized term for insult by raising two digits. So, in brief, "two fingers" is a widely recognized expression with an unfortunate history that has gained its modern-day meaning through cultural adaptation.