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Why a thumbs-up can be an insult in parts of the Middle East
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Taking your aggressively cheerful Western body language abroad is a fantastic way to accidentally tell a local to sit on it. While the internet has softened its impact, historically in countries like Iran and Iraq, a thumbs-up is a vulgar insult known as the 'Bilaakh.' You're essentially flipping someone off with supreme enthusiasm, which rarely ends well in a busy marketplace.
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