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nique

obscene gesture

noun NEEK Rare

Usage Note

Nique appears most commonly in the fixed expression faire la nique à quelqu'un — to thumb your nose at someone, to mock or defy them. As a standalone noun it refers to a contemptuous or rude gesture. The expression has a long literary history in French, though today faire la nique feels mildly archaic compared to more current slang alternatives.

Examples

"Il a fait la nique à son adversaire après la victoire."

Natural Translation

He thumbed his nose at his opponent after the victory.

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