# what id the origin of thumbs-up signal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 10, 2002, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-id-the-origin-of-thumbs-up-signal/102923 "2002-04-10T23:06:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Goo\_Fee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Doctor\_Goo\_Fee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Goo_Fee)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2002, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-id-the-origin-of-thumbs-up-signal/102923/1 "2002-04-10T23:06:49Z")
What is the origin of the “thumbs-up” and “thumbs-down” commonly used to mean good or ok, and bad or not-ok respectively? Was it Roman emperors signalling the fate of gladiators? I did a search of Cecil’s columns figuring that this has been tackled before but i came up with nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa\_Ann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Lisa\_Ann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa_Ann)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2002, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-id-the-origin-of-thumbs-up-signal/102923/2 "2002-04-10T23:11:01Z")
I always assumed it originated with Fonzie! ::_Ducks_:: ---
**Author:** ![ScoobyTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@ScoobyTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScoobyTX)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2002, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-id-the-origin-of-thumbs-up-signal/102923/3 "2002-04-10T23:50:36Z")
According to gladiator documentary on the “Gladiator” DVD, it was originated by some early gladiator film director (specific person not named) and his impression of the signal from the emperor (or other games sponsor) for the victor to kill or spare a yielding fighter. The gesture was described in Roman literature, but not very well. Of course, this may be BS, so YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-id-the-origin-of-thumbs-up-signal/102923/4 "2002-04-11T00:05:23Z")
Although early gladiator flicks brought the thumbs up-thumbs down motif widespread fame, it was preceded by (and believed derived from) French painter Jean Leon Jerome’s 1874 gladiator painting [“Pollice Verso”](http://www.military-art.com/images/dhm_535_small.jpg) (literally, “Thumbs Down”). ---
**Author:** ![FriendRob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecc23a/32.png) [@FriendRob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriendRob)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-id-the-origin-of-thumbs-up-signal/102923/5 "2002-04-11T00:38:56Z")
I remember reading that the “thumbs up” was the sign for “kill him” in Roman times, contrary to expectation. Any Dope on this, or strictly UL? ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-id-the-origin-of-thumbs-up-signal/102923/6 "2002-04-11T00:45:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FriendRob \* > \*\*I remember reading that the “thumbs up” was the sign for “kill him” in Roman times, contrary to expectation. Any Dope on this, or strictly UL? \*\* Apparently, Cecil addressed this in his column on [Why do we nod our heads for “yes” and shake them for “no”?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_450b.html): > [@](#): > > You probably think we make the thumbs-up gesture because that’s what the Romans used to do when they wanted to spare a fallen gladiator, right? Wrong– **that’s a myth based on a succession of mistranslations**. The truth is when the Romans were feeling merciful they hid their thumbs in their clenched fists (symbolically sheathing their swords, some historians believe). To have a guy offed they didn’t turn thumbs down but rather extended their thumbs in a stabbing gesture. For whatever reason, though, thumbs-up today means OK just about everywhere–except in Sardinia or Greece, where it means “screw you.” (bolding mine)