Have you unwittingly done a hand gesture that meant something completely different in another country? Here’s a true story…
During a state visit to #Australia in 1992, US President George Bush Senior was confronted by protesting sugar industry workers angry at the US dumping cheap, subsidised sugar in Australia’s traditional markets.
How did Bush greet the protestors? By flashing them a V-sign ✌🏼… only he did it with the fingers to the front, not the back.
👎🏻 Bad move – that hand gesture in Australia does not mean “peace” or “victory” but has the same meaning as the middle-finger salute, causing great offence. At the time it wasn’t for certain whether this was a genuine gaffe or not. However, as the photo shows, Bush did learn from this faux pas.
Even though it doesn’t have the same meaning as it does in most Commonwealth countries, I still get taken aback when people around the world stick up two fingers at me to signify “two” of something.
🤘🏿 Are there any hand gestures that visitors to your country should avoid doing?
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