''. A man folds his fingers into fig sign as a protective gesture. (
Eskişehir Archaeology Museum)
Derogatory • In
Greece and particularly in the
Ionian Islands, this gesture is still used as an alternative to the
moutza. It is known as a "
fist-phallus", and can be accompanied by extending the right hand while clasping the left hand under one's armpit in a derogatory manner. • In
Belgium,
Denmark and
Germany the gesture is used as an invitation to sex. • In
Russia,
Belarus and
Ukraine, the sign is also called
shish,
kukish or
dulya (, ). It is considered rude and conveys refusal with a sense of absoluteness and finality. The expression ("fig to you!") is also used in place of the gesture. • In
Poland, it is used to express refusal to a request. The use of the gesture is referred to as
showing someone a fig and may be accompanied with the rhyming phrase (lit. "fig with poppyseed, with parsnips"), sometimes in the form of a defiant statement "you'll get a fig (with poppyseed, with parsnips)" in full or in an abbreviated form. • In
Slovakia, it is used to express "nothing at all" or as refusal to a request, usually accompanied by the phrase . Although the exact reason for the usage of this phrase is uncertain, an antiquated version of the phrase, or "wooden fig", may link it to the
Pine tree——likely associating its seed cones with an inedible or worthless "fruit" of a tree, with its shape—as well as the shape of the gesture—resembling that of a fig. • In
Lithuania, it is called and usually when using it some would say . As in Russia and Poland it means denying a request and refusing to do it. It is not as commonly used now, but more by the generation born around 1950s–60s as well as their parents' generation. • In
Croatia,
Serbia and
Slovenia, it is used when denying a request or when swearing a false oath. In the request denial case it is called a fig () but also a "
rose hip" ( / ). (here is a fig/rose hip for you!) is a slightly rude but also a humorous way of rejecting someone's request. In addition it is also used when swearing a false oath or falsifying an affirmation to tell the truth. In this case, it is said that a person is taking a false oath by hiding a fig sign in a pocket (). • In
Turkey, it is an obscene gesture equivalent to showing the middle finger, and is also used to show disagreement at a statement or to deny a request. In the latter sense, it is often accompanied by the (rude) conveying negation or disagreement (see
wiktionary:nah), or by the imperative meaning 'take that!', or the combination of the two: meaning 'you will get nothing!' Thus, the gesture is often referred to as , meaning to 'draw (show) a nah'. It is used in a similar context in
Bulgaria. • In
Korea, it has a likewise meaning as in Turkey as to mean, "Here, have it!", often accompanied by a gesture in which one looks through their pockets as if searching for something, later to reveal the fig sign. It is an old sign and has mostly fallen into disuse.
Other uses • In many countries, such as the
United Kingdom,
Ireland,
Canada,
France,
Germany,
Spain,
Czech Republic,
Argentina,
Uruguay, and the
United States, this sign has no obscene meaning and is instead used in a game where a player "steals" someone else's nose. This is usually done with small children where the player pretends to take their nose and then say "
I've got your nose". The thumb represents the "stolen" nose held between the player's index and middle finger. This innocent meaning may exist alongside the obscene one. • In
Portugal, Brazil, and some places in
Spain, such as
Galicia and
Asturias, it is a gesture of good luck, or even wishing good luck. It is also believed to ward off evil eye and protect oneself from evil. In these countries, an amulet of a hand performing the fig sign is worn as a good luck or protective charm. ==See also==