Where a Thumbs-Up Is Rude: Cultural Gesture Guide

In parts of the Middle East—notably Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan—a thumbs-up can be interpreted as an obscene gesture (equivalent to the middle finger). It's also offensive in Greece (traditional "mountza" variant) and some West African and South American contexts.

When traveling, default to a verbal "yes," nod, or open-palm gesture until local norms are clear.