Use this list as a guide of gestures you do NOT want to do while traveling abroad. It might seem strange to you now, but insulting your foreign friends or hosts could be as easy as biting your thumb (even if it’s a nervous habit).
If you’re traveling soon, you might want to memorize some of these so you can avoid getting kicked out of restaurants.
1.) The Chin Flick (Belgium, France, Northern Italy, Tunisia): This
means “get lost” (in more aggressive language). To perform this, you
brush the hand under the chin in a forward flicking motion. It’s an
insulting brush off people typically use in arguments.
2.) Idiota (Brazil): This basically means “Are you an idiot?” You
put a fist to your forehead while having a comical overbite. It takes a
little artistic flair and skill to pull off correctly, but it could
result in some laughs if you’re in good company.
3.) Moutza (Greece, Africa, Pakistan): This is an aggressive,
complicated gesture that means “to hell with you.” It is basically
pantomiming rubbing dirt or other digusting substances in the face of
your enemy.
4.) Five Fathers (Arab countries, Caribbean): This insult implies
that you have a disgusting family upbringing. This is a particularly
insulting gesture in Saudi Arabia. If you’re washing your hands (or are
an antsy person) be careful of this gesture.
5.) Pepper Mill (Southern Italy): The pepper mill insinuates that a
pesron is crazy. If you’re asking for more pepper at a restaurant, be
careful!
6.) Corna (The Baltics, Brazil, Colombia, Italy, Portugal, Spain):
This gesture means that your wife is unfaithful, a deep insult to a man.
It’s VERY close to the American sign for “love” or even “rock on.” This
gesture’s meaning varies greatly from country to country, so you might
want to avoid it altogether when traveling.
7.) Write-Off (Greece): This means that you are ignoring the person
you are talking to. It’s a pretty simple gesture, so it’s easy to
accidentally do doing conversation.
8.) Cutis (India, Pakistan): This gesture means “I don’t care for
you or your whole family,” basically. You could insult your foreign
host’s entire family with this little movement. You could even be thrown
out on the street.
9.) Tacaño (Mexico, South America): By banging your elbow on a table
at dinner, you could insinuate that your companion is stingy. If you
have a habit of putting your elbows on the table while you eat, you
might want to avoid doing so while traveling.
10.) Fishy Smell (Southern Italy): This insult is one we could
understand, as it means the phrase “this smells fishy,” or “something’s
fishy.” That means you find someone or something untrustworthy, or that
you’re not going to let someone take advantage of you.
Source: Telegraph.co.uk