Hidden Meanings

Watch what you say! A simple hand gesture could land you in a world of trouble. Here the thumbs up sign means "good going! " But in Bangladesh it's a taunt, and in other Islamic countries, it's the equivalent of an upraised middle finger.

Finger Beckoning.
Here we sometimes hail a waiter with index finger slightly raised and thumb loosely extended. In Japan it's rude to beckon a waiter if you motion with the index finger. And in Germany the waiter might well respond by bringing you two more drinks.

Hands in Pockets.
Think you can save yourself a load of trouble by shoving your hands in your pockets? Think again. Keeping one's hands in one's pockets while conversing is impolite in Indonesia, France and Japan.

"V" for Victory.
It can mean "victory" or "peace," but in Britain if the palm faces inward, it's a taunt, especially if executed with an upward jerk of the fingers. As the story goes, over 650 years ago, the French disabled the English archers they captured in battle by cutting off their middle and index fingers. After the battles of Agincourt and Crecy, where the French were heavily defeated, the triumphant English gloated over their French prisoners by holding up their hands, first two fingers upright, palm inward, to show both fingers fully intact.

Tapping Forehead With Fore-finger.
It may mean "smart," but in Holland, tapping the centre of the forehead means "he's crazy."
In Argentina our sign for "he's crazy" (circling a forefinger next to the ear) could be confused with their signal for "You have a telephone call."

The A-Okay.
Joining the thumb and index finger in a circle is an insult in many Latin American countries. When Richard Nixon was vice president, he is reported to have greeted a crowd south of the U.S. border with a double A-Okay sign. Imagine the reaction!
A Frenchman reads the A-Okay gesture as meaning "zero" or "worthless."

Stop Sign.
Extending one hand, palm forward, means "stop!" right?
In Greece it's the moutza, or hand push, which is a common sign of confrontation.
And in West Africa the gesture is even more insulting than the upraised middle finger.

Hook 'Em Horns.
The pinkie and index finger raised up and the two middle fingers folded down is beloved of fans of the University of Texas Longhorns, but in parts of Africa this is a curse. And for millions of Italians it is the cornuto, signalling "Your spouse is being unfaithful." It also means unfaithful partner in some other latin countries like: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Spain, Portugal. Yet in Hawaii raising the pinkie and thumb means "hang loose."

The Fingers Crossed
The fingers crossed in America mean hoping for good luck, but in Vietnam it is similar to giving the middle finger because it is thought to resemble female genitals.

Public Displays of Affection
If you are traveling to United Arab Emirates and some other Islamic countries avoid any public displays of affection like: kissing, hugging or holding hands. Many tourists have been arrested and thrown in jail for kissing in public.

Different Meanings