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When first twin Jenna Bush flashed the Hook 'Em Horns at an inaugural bash, she was just showing Texas pride. Little did she know that the horns were also the calling card of the Death Metal movement that sparked mayhem in Norway a few years ago. Which got us thinking: what other parts of the globe are we irrevocably alienating with our sporty gesticulations? To find out, we asked Terri Morrison, co-author of Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: How to Do Business in Sixty Countries, to set us straight. -LANE STRAUSS
"In parts of Africa, when you put your open hand in the air, it's not exactly a compliment. It implies that the person being waved at has five fathers."
"Standing with your hands on your hips is considered a very aggressive posture in the Far East, particularly the Philippines and Malaysia. They'd probably hit you."
"In the Netherlands, nobody touches anybody. The culture is extremely formal, so it's very hands-off down there, and I do mean down there."
"This is more confusing than offensive. People in other countries don't associate pointing to the sky with giving accolades to God. In india, for example, they point with their chins."
"Thumbs-up is a very rude gesture in most Middle Eastern countries. It's essentially like giving some-one the finger."
"Never, ever show the bottom of your foot to an Arab. It's considered the filthiest part of the body, so the gesture is horribly offensive. Horribly."