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In the United States, giving someone a thumbs up making a horn shape with your fingers are usually considered to be friendly gestures. But in other countries, those hand signals might have an entirely different and potentially insulting meaning. When traveling abroad, you should always be aware of local customs and etiquette rules. Rather than risk offending a local, take some time to learn about what’s considered impolite before you travel to an unfamiliar location. To start, here are six common hand gestures that you should avoid using in certain countries.Reverse “V” Sign – United KingdomIn the U.S., holding your...

Experts who have studied the history of the raised middle finger -- and there are a few out there -- have found written references to it as far back as ancient Greek and Roman times. The gesture's sexual meaning has always been roughly the same, and it has always been considered rude. Those findings, the experts say, debunk a common legend that "flipping the bird" got its start at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. As that story goes, the victorious British supposedly raised their middle fingers after the French threatened to chop off the middle digits of captured...