snook, cock a
snook, cock a openly show contempt or disrespect for someone, literally by placing one hand so that the thumb touches one's nose and the fingers are spread out, in order to express contempt. The expression, recorded from the late 18th century, is of obscure origin. Suggestions as to the origin of the gesture include a mimicry of the erect comb of a fighting cock or the making of a grotesque nose in reference to the long-nosed effigies that are part of folk tradition in many cultures.
More From encyclopedia.com
finger , fin·ger / ˈfinggər/ • n. each of the four slender jointed parts attached to either hand (or five, if the thumb is included). ∎ a part of a glove inte… No , no / nō/ • adj. 1. not any: there is no excuse | no two plants are alike. 2. used to indicate that something is quite the opposite of what is being s… express , ex·press1 / ikˈspres/ • v. [tr.] 1. convey (a thought or feeling) in words or by gestures and conduct: he expressed complete satisfaction. ∎ (express… Fool , fool1 / foōl/ • n. a person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a silly person: what a fool I was to do this. ∎ hist. a jester or clown, esp. one retai… Sow , sow
sow1 / sō/ • v. (past sowed ; past part. sown / sōn/ or sowed) [tr.] plant (seed) by scattering it on or in the earth: fill a pot with compost an… Language, Linguistics, and Literary Terms , cry / krī/ • v. (cries, cried) [intr.] shed tears, esp. as an expression of distress or pain: don't cry—it'll be all right| [tr.] you'll cry tears of…
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
snook, cock a