3The A-OK
Touching your forefinger to your thumb and pointing the remaining three fingers straight up appears in the U.S. an attempt to create a crude “o” and “k”. This gesture is also widely used in the diving world to both ask if a diver is fine, and for the diver to respond back that she is.
Turns out making a circle with your index finger and thumb is not OK in certain countries. In France, for example, it means “zero” or “worthless.” In Venezuela and Brazil, it’s a vulgar slang that will offend pretty much anyone you flash it at.
Which is completely confusing, is a different meaning in Germany. Here basically the “A-OK” is understood as everything is fine, but don’t use it in road traffic. While driving it represents a concealed body part and using it can cost you a fine.
In Greece and Turkey, it’s also seen as quite vulgar, and insinuates the person to whom it’s given is a homosexual. In some Middle Eastern countries, the “A-OK” is the symbol for the “evil eye”.
Offended countries: France, Venezuela, Brazil, Germany, Turkey, Greece, Middle East