# In what culture is the "thumbs up" sign insulting? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 2, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-culture-is-the-thumbs-up-sign-insulting/601685 "2011-11-02T22:09:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-culture-is-the-thumbs-up-sign-insulting/601685/1 "2011-11-02T22:09:34Z")
My retired (working PT as a tutor) mother, my nephew, and I were going out to lunch last week, and as part of her training to work at a “learning center,” was exposed to numerous “sensitivities” to be avoided. One of which was a thumbs up. Why and where is this offensive? All East Asians and Indian folks I’ve known never seemed to shy away from it. The numerous East Africans I’ve worked with – I don’t know, but I never found it a problem. MENA cats seemed cool with it too, flashing the thumbs up when “mission accomplished.” True? Not true? Details I’m missing? Cites/links? ---
**Author:** ![Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pasta)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-culture-is-the-thumbs-up-sign-insulting/601685/2 "2011-11-02T22:25:35Z")
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thumbs\_signal#The\_gesture\_internationally](http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thumbs_signal#The_gesture_internationally) ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-culture-is-the-thumbs-up-sign-insulting/601685/3 "2011-11-02T23:22:55Z")
> **[Thumb signal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thumbs_signal#The_gesture_internationally)** > > A thumb signal, usually described as a thumbs-up or thumbs-down, is a common hand gesture achieved by a closed fist held with the thumb extended upward or downward, respectively. The thumbs-up gesture is associated with positivity, approval, achievement, satisfaction and solidarity, while the thumbs-down gesture is associated with concern, disapproval, dissatisfaction, rejection and failure. > While the exact source of the thumb gesture is obscure, several origins have been proposed. Carleton S. C... Fixed link.