Offensive Hand Gestures from Around the World

This gesturemostly shows up inBelgium, France, Northern Italy, and Tunisia. It means "Get lost" or "No," depending on where and how you use it.

In Brazil, put yourfist on your foreheadis a simple, direct way to ask "Are you an idiot?

InArabic countries and the Caribbean, this hand gesture means "You have five fathers." This means, "Your mother's a wh*re."

Do not flash the peace sign in England. TheV signis a quick way to tell someone to f*** off.

InGreece, Africa, and Pakistan, this hand gesturecan mean anything from "To hell with you!" to "I'm going to violate your sister!

In Greece, this gesturemeans "I'm ignoring you." People often add the phrase "I write it on my testicles," though you do not need testicles for the write-off gesture.

InIndia and Pakistan (as well as fair Verona), toperform the cutisinsult someone's entire family. Be careful whom you bite your thumb at.

Crossing your arms in front of you shows great arrogance inFinland. Standing with this posture in a Finnish bar likely gets you into a fight.

In the Baltics, Brazil, Colombia, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, this hand gesturecan mean "Your wife is being unfaithful."

In Mexico and South America, this gesturemeans "You're stingy." Slam your elbow on the table for more gesturing.

In Southern Italy, to give the sign of thefishy smellmeans "I find you untrustworthy." The movement suggests something stinks.suggests that something stinks.

In England, to tell someone you think they have a small member, justwag your pinky fingerat them.

In Turkey, Russia, and Indonesia, clinching your fistwith your thumb between your first and second fingers means “screw you." That is putting it mildly.

In Vietnam, crossing your fingersas we would in the US, depicts a woman’s genitalia, and is extremely insulting if aimed at another person. It is the hand-sign version of calling someone thec-word.

In Australia, thethumbs-up signdoesnotmean “That’s great” like it does in the States. Down under, it means “Up yours” or the painful-sounding “Sit on it.”

In Russia, shaking hands, or doing pretty much anything else over a threshold is considered extremely unlucky.

In Southern Italy, this hand gesturemeans "You're crazy." The person'saddled brain is whirring as fast as the mill's blades.

In Thailand, theraised arm with three fingers extended(like the gesture used inThe Hunger Games) was outlawed after it became a symbol against the country’s military coup in 2012.

In the Philippines, using your hand to make a“Come here” gestureis one of the most offensive things you can do. This gesture is so bad you can get arrested for using it.

This gesturewill not endear you to anyonein most parts of southern Europe or Brazil.Soccer fans use this gesture as a harsh 'f*** you' toward the opposing team.