Here is a list of the non-American obscene hand gestures that people have told me about. I haven't drawn them all yet. Do you know any obscene hand gestures not described in this file? Please email them to me at ! -------- "ARAB CULTURE" If the finger goes forward instead of up it is equally offensive in Arab culture. I hpe it adds to your collection of cultural offensive behavior -------- ENGLAND make a victory sign (v) with palms facing yourself and back of hand toward victim. It means the same as the bird in England. - - - - I was told by a friend in England (alot of English don't even know this!) of the origins of the peace-sign, with the back of the hand facing the person being flipped-off. She told me that in the earlier part of the millenium, when England and France were frequently at battle, the French would cut-off the fingers (necessary for shooting an arrow) from the archers, they had taken as prisoner. After this became known to the english archers, they would flash this gesture to the French in the battle-field, thus telling them that they still had their fingers and could still cause some damage in battle. At the moment, I'm trying to find documentation on this, but I saw your page and thought I might as well share the story. - - - - I just noticed that you're looking for rude gestures from other cultures. Appropriate to your current surroundings, I believe that a "peace" symbol (I think with the back of the hand facing forward) is rude in England. Last time I flew over, a guy asked for two drinks, and made that sign. The stewardess warned him about possible misunderstanding. John Jannotti - - - - If you make the "V for victory" sign, such that the curled fingers are facing towards you, (the backs of the two fingers are facing the person) this gesture is offensive in England. There was an article in a magazine about such gestures, but I don't know where it is any more. I think the "OK" symbol is offensive in some parts of the world, actually. Tim Park -------- ITALY In Italy, a reverse V sign, with knuckles facing the viewer, also means fuck you. A variation of this gesture is to insert your nose at the crotch of the V. The "variation" is perhaps the original gesture. I gather that the nose is supposed to be a penis and the V a woman's private parts. Or rather spread legs. Alan Thwaits -------- IRAN Some gestures I have found are the "thumbs-up" which is obscene in Iran. It literally means "go screw yourself". -------- JAPAN In Japan, inserting the thumb between the first two fingers, in imitation of the clitoris, means something like fuck you. Alan Thwaits -------- KOREA If you're in Korea (or around Koreans), NEVER play "got your nose" with little kids: If you make a fist and put your thumb between your index finger and middle finger, you're essentially saying "fuck you." I've also been told, but have not really verified that if you stick your thumb between your middle finger and ring finger you're essentially saying "fuck you in the ass." Rude enough? Ivon Katz -------- RUSSIA in russian it is a clenched fist with the thumb going between the first and second fingers(i think kinda like an m in sign language altho i fergot m,n,t, its one of those....i think) ... > hi yan, > > would you normally show this to someone with the back of the hand facing > them, or the palm side? > > thanks! > ed its with a clenched fist with the thumb facing towards the person Yan Pritzker