Is "Жест от локтя" offensive?

Yes — very. It rates 4/5 on the Punch-o-Meter (Fighting words). aimed at a person, will start something. Read the usage note before you even think about it.

How do you pronounce "Жест от локтя"?

This one's a hand gesture — there's nothing to pronounce. Slap one hand into the crook of the opposite elbow, jerking the forearm up into a fist.

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Russian · Hand Gestures · hand gesture

Жест от локтя

zhest ot loktya

Up yours! / a full-arm screw-you

4/5 Fighting words

aimed at a person, will start something

The gesture

"Slap one hand into the crook of the opposite elbow, jerking the forearm up into a fist"

What your hand is actually doing.

How to use it

The "bras d'honneur" — chop one hand into the inner elbow of the other arm while the forearm snaps up into a fist. It's the whole-body escalation of the middle finger, unmistakably "screw you, and then some." Deeply rude and aggressive; deploy only if you actually want the confrontation.

Heard in the wild

Водитель показал ему жест от локтя.

The driver gave him the full-arm up-yours.

Where it lands

Russia (universal); shared across Europe

Quick answers

What does "Жест от локтя" mean?: In Russian, "Жест от локтя" means "Up yours! / a full-arm screw-you". Literally it's "Slap one hand into the crook of the opposite elbow, jerking the forearm up into a fist". The "bras d'honneur" — chop one hand into the inner elbow of the other arm while the forearm snaps up into a fist. It's the whole-body escalation of the middle finger, unmistakably "screw you, and then some." Deeply rude and aggressive; deploy only if you actually want the confrontation.
Is "Жест от локтя" offensive?: Yes — very. It rates 4/5 on the Punch-o-Meter (Fighting words). aimed at a person, will start something. Read the usage note before you even think about it.
How do you pronounce "Жест от локтя"?: This one's a hand gesture — there's nothing to pronounce. Slap one hand into the crook of the opposite elbow, jerking the forearm up into a fist.

Related in Russian

Средний палец sredniy palets gesture Screw you / the finger Фига / Кукиш figa / kukish gesture You'll get nothing! / Up yours (mild) / no way Щелчок по горлу shchelchok po gorlu gesture Let's drink / he's drunk / booze Крутить у виска krutit' u viska gesture You're crazy / are you nuts? Чёрт возьми! chyort voz'mi CHORT vahz-MEE Damn it! / For God's sake! Остынь! ostyn' ah-STIN Calm down / Chill out

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "Screw you".

how to say "Screw you" →

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