V sign

The V sign is a hand gesture in which the first and second fingers are raised and parted, whilst the remaining fingers are clenched. Generally considered a 'Peace' sign, in the UK it can also carry connotations of 'Victory' and 'Defiance'. If the hand is held out, palm towards the person performing the gesture, this is consider to be highly insulting, similar in severity to the one-fingered salute meaning "Up yours".

Winston Churchill used a V sign in both versions to symbolise 'V for Victory' during World War II. US President Richard Nixon also used the victory sign.

The insulting version originates, allegedly, from around the time of the Hundred Years War, when captured English archers would have their two bow fingers cut off to prevent them using their favoured weapon. The archers began to use the V gesture, palm inwards, to show the enemy that they could still attack them. In the modern world, the gesture has a very confused meaning, as it depends on which culture the people using belong to, and what they are trying to signify.

The Peace gesture was (and is) commonly used by anti-war protesters.

• "Bunny ears" - by curling the two fingers, palm away from the signer.
• "Up Yours" - straight or curled, palm toward the signer.
• "Peace" - Straight fingers, palm either way.
• "Victory" - Straight fingers, palm either way.