Our hands are some of our most expressive tools. We use them to wave, to point, to count, and to add emphasis. But body language is not a universal tongue; it’s a dialect learned from our culture. A gesture that signifies approval in one country can be a declaration of war in another. Before your next trip, it’s worth learning how your hands can lie for you, turning a friendly signal into a grave insult.

The Deceptive Thumbs-Up 👍

Let’s start with one of the most globally recognized gestures: the thumbs-up. In most of the Western world and on social media, it’s a simple sign of approval. It means “good job”, “I agree”, or “everything is great”. It’s the universal sign for hitchhiking, a silent request for a ride. Simple, right?

Not so fast. Flash that same thumb in parts of the Middle East (like Iran and Iraq), West Africa, and even certain parts of Europe like Sardinia and Greece, and you’ve just committed a serious faux pas. In these regions, the thumbs-up is the gestural equivalent of the middle finger. It’s an aggressive, offensive insult. Imagine trying to compliment your host’s delicious meal with a gesture that essentially tells them to “sit on this”. The potential for misunderstanding is immense and can instantly sour any friendly encounter.

The “A-OK” Sign Isn’t Always Okay 👌

Forming a circle with your thumb and index finger is another go-to gesture for many. In the United States, it’s the “A-OK” sign, a clear signal that all is well. For scuba divers, it’s a critical piece of communication, meaning “I’m okay”.

However, this seemingly harmless gesture has a dark side in many parts of the world. In Brazil, Turkey, and Venezuela, the A-OK sign is profoundly obscene. It’s an insulting gesture that symbolizes an anus, often used to call someone a homosexual in a derogatory way. Former U.S. President Richard Nixon famously learned this the hard way when he flashed the sign to a crowd in Brazil, who responded with boos.

The meaning continues to shift elsewhere. In France and Belgium, it means “zero” or “worthless”. In Japan, it can symbolize money or a coin. To add another layer of modern complexity, the gesture has been co-opted by some white supremacist groups, making its use in any context fraught with potential misinterpretation. It’s a stark reminder that the meaning of symbols can evolve and diverge dramatically.

Come Here… or Go Away? The Beckoning Finger

Curling your index finger toward you to summon someone is a gesture we see in movies and use in daily life without a second thought. “Come here”, it says. It’s direct, clear, and efficient.

But in many Asian countries, this gesture is reserved for calling dogs and is considered incredibly rude when used for a person. In the Philippines, it’s so offensive that it can actually get you arrested. To beckon someone respectfully in much of Asia, you use your whole hand, palm down, and make a scratching or fluttering motion with your fingers. Using the single-finger beckon implies you see the other person as your inferior—or even sub-human.

Peace, Victory, or Insult? The V-Sign ✌️

The “V” sign, made with the index and middle fingers, carries a powerful duality based on a simple rotation of the wrist. With the palm facing outward, it’s the iconic “peace” sign of the 1960s or the “victory” sign popularized by Winston Churchill during World War II. It’s a symbol of positivity and triumph.

Turn your hand around, however, so the back of your hand faces the other person, and you’ve just delivered a potent insult in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. This palm-inward “V” is the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger. The folklore behind it (though historically debated) is a fantastic tale: it’s said to originate from the Hundred Years’ War, where English archers would taunt the French by showing them they still had their two bow-drawing fingers, which the French would cut off captured archers.

Crossing Your Fingers for Trouble 🤞

In many Western cultures, crossing your index and middle fingers is a hopeful gesture. We do it when wishing for good luck, hoping for a specific outcome, or—for children—when telling a white lie. It’s a silent prayer or a playful fib.

Take that same gesture to Vietnam, and you’ll be in for a shock. There, the crossed fingers are thought to resemble female genitalia and are considered an extremely crude and offensive gesture. Flashing it at someone is a direct and vulgar insult, far from the innocent hopefulness it signifies elsewhere.

Speak Softly and Wave Carefully

The world of gestures is a powerful testament to the diversity of human communication. It proves that what we consider innate and universal is often anything but. Our bodies speak a language that is deeply tied to our cultural upbringing, and assuming everyone shares our physical vocabulary is a recipe for disaster.

So, what’s a traveler to do? The best advice is to practice observation and humility. When you arrive in a new place, watch how locals interact. Pay attention to how they greet, beckon, and express approval. When in doubt, err on the side of caution. A simple smile and a polite nod are almost universally safe and understood. And if you do make a mistake—which is almost inevitable—a quick, sincere apology can go a long way. After all, the willingness to learn is the most universal sign of respect there is.