A quick guide to hand gestures of the world
International travel can be tricky. Did you know that if you were to give the American hand signal for "that rocks" (thumb and the two middle fingers down, first and last fingers up in a horn shape) in Italy you would be telling someone their wife is cheating on them? Those with New Year holiday plans might want to invest in the book Don't Get Me Wrong – The Global Gestures Guide. Here are a few examples.
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All right or cool
in Great Britain, South Korea, South Africa One France, Poland, Switzerland Vulgar insult Afghanistan, Iran, IraqPhotograph: Florian Bong-Kil Grosse
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What’s this? or What do you want?
in Italy Small or little in Congo Beautiful or good in Turkey Just a moment in EgyptPhotograph: Florian Bong-Kil Grosse
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Two
in Belgium, Liechtenstein, The Netherlands Eight in China Not good in ItalyPhotograph: Florian Bong-Kil Grosse
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Perfect
in Canada, Mexico, Switzerland Vulgar insult in BrazilPhotograph: Florian Bong-Kil Grosse
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Go away!
in Czech Republic, Denmark, The Netherlands Come here! in Ghana, Philippines, VietnamPhotograph: Florian Bong-Kil Grosse
