“Talking In The Lift”: 47 Offensive Things Americans Do In Other Countries Without Even Realizing It

Asking someone you've just met what they do for a living might seem like harmless small talk. But that largely depends on where in the world you find yourself or who you're asking. For example, in France, you may be met with blank stares, or worse yet, anger.

“They will be offended, believing you’re trying to put them into a box,” explains Julie Barlow, a French-Canadian author. “And they just don’t think it’s interesting to work for a living. There are other things they’d much rather talk about.”

Barlow, who co-wrote the book, The Bonjour Effect: The Secret Codes of French Conversation Revealed, adds that French people believe conversations are for exchanging points of view, not finding things in common.

The French, according to Barlow, are more likely to kick off a conversation with something along the lines of “Which part of the country are you from?” or another question about geography or the food in a person’s hometown or region.

If you're someone who likes to show a thumbs-up instead of verbalizing "yes" or "good job," you may want to reconsider if you plan on visiting parts of the Middle East, Latin America, or West Africa. What you deem as an innocent gesture takes on a whole new meaning in those regions and is actually seen as the equivalent of the middle finger.

The same goes for the peace sign and a host of other hand signals...

"The Greek moutza, an open palm thrust forward, is deeply disrespectful. The chin flick, used in Italy and France, is a strong dismissal or insult. The forearm jerk, known as the bras d’honneur, is a crude insult in France and Brazil," warn the experts at travel protection company Global Rescue.

The Global Rescue team adds that a fig sign (thumb between index and middle fingers) is considered rude in both Russia and Turkey, while the “devil horns” rock symbol would suggest someone's spouse is cheating in Italy and Spain.

"Crossed arms might signal defense in the West, but politeness in Japan," adds the site. "Pointing feet at someone is rude in Thailand and many Arab countries. Tapping the temple means cleverness in the U.S. but implies mockery in parts of Europe."

Showing someone the peace sign might seem like a friendly gesture, be very careful about where your palm is facing if you're in the United Kingdom.

"The peace sign with the palm facing inward, often seen in selfies, is the equivalent of a middle finger in the U.K. Pointing directly at someone with your index finger is acceptable in the US but aggressive or rude in China and Malaysia," warns Global Rescue, adding that holding up your pinky can mean also be taken the wrong way. It might mean “small” in America but suggests infidelity in East Asia.

If you think head movements like nodding for "yes" and shaking for "no" are universal, think again. Those seemingly innocent gestures have totally opposite meanings in some parts of the world, like Bulgaria and certain areas of the Middle East.

To make matters even more confusing, in India, a head wobble can mean yes, no, maybe, or all at once, depending on context. "A finger snap, casual or musical in the U.S., might come off as dismissive or rude in Latin America and Eastern Europe," adds the Global Rescue site.

Pointing at someone with your index finger is considered rude in China, Japan, Malaysia, and a few other destinations. And you might be surprised to learn that waving at someone with the palm of your hand facing outward (like "hello" or "goodbye") might seem like a cheerful greeting but is a deeply insulting gesture in Greece. It basically means, “To hell with you.”

"Similarly, the 'come here' motion with palm up and fingers curling, while common in America, is offensive in the Philippines, where it’s used to beckon dogs," the site cautions.