India, April 27 -- The power of the gesture is extraordinary. Well-used, it can be the fastest way to communicate an idea or emotion. Misused, it can be the quickest shortcut to cross-purposes, misunderstanding and hostility.
Take the simple thumbs-up. So cheery, encouraging and upbeat in most cultures, it means "sit on this" (essentially, "f**k you") across the Middle-East, Egypt and Iran.
Join the tip of the thumb to the top of the forefinger to form a sort of circle, meanwhile, and in America, it's a signal for "good to go" (everyone from soldiers to scuba divers use it in this way). In Europe, however, this gesture indicates "zero" (meaning, "no good" or "worthless"). In Japan, it means the signaller requires money. In Iran, it's the ...