give someone the arm

verb

To direct the bras d'honneur (obscene gesture) at someone.

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Meanings

verbgive someone the arm (third-person singular simple present gives someone the arm, present participle giving someone the arm, simple past gave someone the arm, past participle given someone the arm)

present singular third person gives someone the arm · participle present giving someone the arm · past gave someone the arm · participle past given someone the arm

  1. USinformalTo direct the bras d'honneur (obscene gesture) at someone.

    Pentangeli walks out of the restaurant; there's a little tension between the bodyguards of the two factions. ROSATO (O.S.) Hey, Five-Angels... He gives him the arm. Frankie's face turns red, like he wants to have it out here and now; but Willy Cicci calms his down, and they all make their move out.

    1973, Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather Part II (screenplay, second draft)
Cite this entry
APA

give someone the arm. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20someone%20the%20arm

MLA

“give someone the arm.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20someone%20the%20arm. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “give someone the arm,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20someone%20the%20arm.

Source: give someone the arm on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.