# OK sign and thumb-up sign. Are they still offensive in certain parts of the world? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 24, 2013, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060 "2013-08-24T15:33:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/21 "2013-08-26T03:25:06Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > [http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/the-meaning-of-the-thumbsup-hand-gesture-around-the-world-624721.html](http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/the-meaning-of-the-thumbsup-hand-gesture-around-the-world-624721.html) > > The Meaning of the Thumbs-up Hand Gesture Around the World > > Nov 02, 2008183,692 > > Hand gestures mean different things in different countries. What is considered a cool sign may be a grave insult in another country. This article takes a look at one of the most common signs: the thumbs-up sign. > > Let’s have a look at different countries and what the thumbs-up sign means there: > > **Thailand - Very obscene gesture.** This is complete and utter bullshit. The thumbs-up sign is not the least bit offensive in Thailand. It means the same as it does in the US – general approval for something. Just to be sure I have not been misinterpreting all these signs of support directed toward me, I consulted my Thai wife, who confirms that is bullshit. (Or maybe she just wants to be able to keep giving me that sign, dunno.) EDIT: As for the okay sign, that’s not offensive here either. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/22 "2013-08-26T03:43:35Z")
Thanks Siam Sam. There is quite a bit of misinformation online regarding this topic. I’d appreciate your feedback on what are considered offensive gestures in Thailand, so we can clear up some misconceptions. davidmich ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/23 "2013-08-26T03:56:08Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > This is complete and utter bullshit. The thumbs-up sign is not the least bit offensive in Thailand. It means the same as it does in the US – general approval for something. > > Just to be sure I have not been misinterpreting all these signs of support directed toward me, I consulted my Thai wife, who confirms that is bullshit. (Or maybe she just wants to be able to keep giving me that sign, dunno.) > > EDIT: As for the okay sign, that’s not offensive here either. How does “my hovercraft is full of eels” translate? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/24 "2013-08-26T04:23:49Z")
> [@Battle\_Pope](#): > > How does “my hovercraft is full of eels” translate? “My nipples explode with delight” might be more appropriate in Thailand. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/25 "2013-08-26T04:48:22Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > “My nipples explode with delight” might be more appropriate in Thailand. Is that to or from Hungarian? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/26 "2013-08-26T05:01:46Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > Thanks Siam Sam. There is quite a bit of misinformation online regarding this topic. I’d appreciate your feedback on what are considered offensive gestures in Thailand, so we can clear up some misconceptions. > davidmich You know how you wave someone over, with your palm up? That’s considered offensive in Thailand, because it’s how you call a dog. The correct way to motion someone over is with the palm down. And that is also the way you hail a taxi. > [@Battle\_Pope](#): > > How does “my hovercraft is full of eels” translate? > [@Colibri](#): > > “My nipples explode with delight” might be more appropriate in Thailand. Yes, it was many years of Thais saying saying “Yeah, same ol’, same ol’” to me before I realized I was actually saying “My nipples explode with delight.” ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/27 "2013-08-26T05:32:53Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > You know how you wave someone over, with your palm up? That’s considered offensive in Thailand, because it’s how you call a dog. The correct way to motion someone over is with the palm down. And that is also the way you hail a taxi. Same in China. Palm down to wave someone over is rude but not fighting bad. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/28 "2013-08-26T05:52:34Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > Same in China. Palm down to wave someone over is rude but not fighting bad. Palm down is the polite way to motion someone over in Thailand. It’s palm up that’s rude. Another couple while I’m thinking of it is pointing or doing pretty much anything else with one’s feet, as that’s the “lowest” part of the body. My wife was horrified at first at the U of Hawaii to find a group of us farangs (whiteys) sitting way back in a lecture hall with our feet propped up. You would also never hide money in your shoe, especially since all currency carries the image of the king – theoretically you _could_ be charged with lese majeste and sentenced to 15 years. Complementing the feet being the “lowest” part of the body, the head is the “highest” and should never be touched by someone else unless you are _extremely_ good friends. Even patting a small child on the head will be considered offensive by its parents. Slap someone up the side of the head and you had best be prepared to fight to the death. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/29 "2013-08-26T07:26:09Z")
Among which Asian women, which are least likely to shake hands with you? In my experience Chinese women will more often than not shake hands, whereas Korean women will not. Among certain groups like the Korean-Chinese (chaoxian), they will most likely not shake hands. Can you tell me among other Asian nationalities, where its not polite to shake hands or expect a handshake.? davidmich ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/30 "2013-08-26T08:52:11Z")
Asia is a large continent, covering Turkey to Japan and then some. You can’t really generalize about Asia, although many times when Westerners say “Asia,” they really mean East and Southeast Asia. Even then, you’re looking at wide variances. In Thailand, it’s not a case of women will shake your hand but men will. It’s a case of no one shakes hands. A lot of times Thais like to shake my hand to show me how “modern” they are. But I’m not sure I’ve encountered many places over here where handshakes are common, be it with a man or a woman. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/31 "2013-08-26T09:50:57Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > Among which Asian women, which are least likely to shake hands with you? > In my experience Chinese women will more often than not shake hands, whereas Korean women will not. Among certain groups like the Korean-Chinese (chaoxian), they will most likely not shake hands. Can you tell me among other Asian nationalities, where its not polite to shake hands or expect a handshake.? > davidmich For Muslems you should wait for the lady to initiate - so that includes any of the muslem majority countries… ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/32 "2013-08-26T09:55:52Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Complementing the feet being the “lowest” part of the body, the head is the “highest” and should never be touched by someone else unless you are _extremely_ good friends. Even patting a small child on the head will be considered offensive by its parents. Slap someone up the side of the head and you had best be prepared to fight to the death. An American “friend” kept patting my head, after I’d told him to stop. I finally told him, “touch my head again and I’m not talking to you ever again.” He did. We would meet at the gaming club every Saturday for two more years; I never spoke to him again. There’s very, very few people who are allowed to touch my head, and then either by reason of their profession or because they’re old enough to be called “venerable”. Pat it, nobody - ever. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/33 "2013-08-26T10:28:05Z")
Someone told me several years ago that Australians don’t particularly like to shake hands. I want to know how true that is, if it’s a certain age group, a certain segment of Australians. I hope someone can enlighten me on this point. It could be utter nonsense as well. I look forward to your feedback. davidmich ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/34 "2013-08-26T10:34:08Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > Someone told me several years ago that Australians don’t particularly like to shake hands. I want to know how true that is, if it’s a certain age group, a certain segment of Australians. I hope someone can enlighten me on this point. It could be utter nonsense as well. I look forward to your feedback. > davidmich Dude … Where are all these weird arse questions coming from? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/35 "2013-08-26T10:53:27Z")
> [@Battle\_Pope](#): > > How does “my hovercraft is full of eels” translate? โฮเวอร์คราฟท์ของผมเต็มไปด้วยปลาไหล > **[Translations of My hovercraft is full of eels in many languages](https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/hovercraft.htm)** > > How to tell people that your hovercraft has been infested with eels in many different languages. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/36 "2013-08-26T10:56:08Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > Australia - If it is still or downwards, it usually means OK or alright (or agreement). Thumbs-up with a little upward motion can be a grave insult, depending on context. Perhaps in the 1950s, but certainly not today. Grave insult? Ridiculous, even historically. > [@davidmich](#): > > Someone told me several years ago that Australians don’t particularly like to shake hands. I want to know how true that is, if it’s a certain age group, a certain segment of Australians. I hope someone can enlighten me on this point. It could be utter nonsense as well. I look forward to your feedback. > davidmich Utter nonsense, either today or in the past. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/37 "2013-08-26T11:17:15Z")
Thanks Lord Mondegreen for clearing those questions up. davidmich ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/38 "2013-08-26T11:18:58Z")
Thanks everyone. Very helpful feedback. davidmich ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/39 "2013-08-26T15:23:14Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Dude … > > Where are all these weird arse questions coming from? Yeah, I’ve been wondering the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060/40 "2013-08-26T18:39:38Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > I’ll assume any way you use the OK sign in Brazil is offensive. > davidmich Back in the 90’s I was in Brazil talking to some scuba divers. They were making OK signs to each other as they got ready to dive and then were quick to apologize and explain to me that it was an official scuba sign so it was OK for them to do it. From their attitude I was surprised they didn’t drown from giggling every time they used it underwater. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-sign-and-thumb-up-sign-are-they-still-offensive-in-certain-parts-of-the-world/667060.md?page=3)