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In a movie I heard a character saying "Get your phalanges off me!" Why not "Get your fingers off me"? Is the speaker trying to sound impressive or well-learned?

Thank you!

braininvat
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Even though phalanges are defined as being the digital bones (digit meaning finger or toe), the character is probably making a direct comparison between hands, fingers, and phalanges. In the context of just the hands, these are called the distal phalanges.

The character is more or less probably trying to sound comedic or intelligent (and possibly a combination of the two).

triforceofcourage
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    Perhaps there is also a political notion involved. The Phalangist Party exists in Lebanon and is a Christian organisation, while the Falangists in Spain used to be dictator Franco's cronies. The party symbol consisted of five arrows bound together in the middle, not unlike Mussolini's fasces. – Joost Kiefte Aug 07 '15 at 06:52
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    Re: "In the context of just the hands, these are called the distal phalanges": No, the distal phalanges are the phalanges at the tips of the fingers and toes. – ruakh Aug 07 '15 at 07:28
  • So maybe he didn't mind being gripped, he just wanted you to stop digging your nails into him? : ) – candied_orange Aug 07 '15 at 08:25