It's what the Americans call 'the five-fingered salute'. The general understanding of what's meant by 'cock a snook' is the spread hand with thumb on the nose, preferably with crossed eyes, waggling fingers and any other annoying gesticulation that comes to mind at the time. That's possible but, although snout and snook are somewhat similar, why didn't they just 'cock a snout'.
It is sometimes reported to be derived from snout, as in thumbing one's nose. That could have something to do with the gesture as it does involve sticking fingers out.Īpart from this single phrase, snook isn't a word you hear very often. There is a species of fish called snook, but it isn't that, unless there's a form of derisive gesture that I've had too sheltered an upbringing to be aware of.Ī snook is also a promontory of jutting out land. Unfortunately we can't be sure about that. In trying to explain the origin of 'Cock a snook' it would be helpful to know which of the meanings of the word snook the person who coined this phrase had in mind. What's the origin of the phrase 'Cock a snook'? It is otherwise known as 'thumbing one's nose'. Conflict and crime What's the meaning of the phrase 'Cock a snook'?Ī derisive gesture formed by holding one's thumb to one's nose and waggling the fingers.
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