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Difference between Give someone the bird and Have a bird

admin Confusing Phrases

give someone the bird—

1. (coll.) scoff or jeer at a performer, entertainer, etc.:

  • Spencer’s goal-kicking was atrocious—even the crowd began to give him the bird.

2. make a very impolite sign by raising one’s middle finger towards smb. to show that one is angry:

  • He lifted his hand outside the car window and gave me the bird.

have a bird—(U.S. sl.) react with strong anxiety or agitation (also: have a canary):

  • When I told my daughter she was grounded, she had a bird … began screaming and crying.

See also: get a duck / get the bird.