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A ''thumbs up'' or '''''thumbs down''''' is a common gesture represented by a closed fist held with the thumb extended upward or downward in approval or disapproval respectively. These gestures have become metaphors in English: ''"My boss gave my proposal the thumbs-up"'' means that the boss approved the proposal, regardless of whether the gesture was made — indeed, the gesture itself is unlikely in a formal business setting. The source of the gesture is obscure, although Carleton S. Coon, having observed Barbary apes in Gibraltar using the gesture, hypothesised in the anthropological classic 'The Story of Man' that it is a mutual celebration of having opposable thumbs. Critics have suggested, however, that the apes may be simply aping man. Though a favorite of Hollywood ' Swords And Sandals ' epics, where the "thumbs down" symbol means that the loser in a gladiatorial combat should be put to death, recent research suggests the meanings of the symbols have changed over the years. In 1997 , Professor Anthony Philip Corbeill of the University Of Kansas concluded that the thumbs up actually meant "Kill him," basing his assertion on a study of hundreds of ancient artworks. Thus, the "thumbs up" was an approval of the gladiator's request to kill his vanquished foe rather than a vote to allow the defeated to remain alive. Corbeill wrote that a closed fist with a wraparound thumb was the indication for a gladiator's life to be spared. Desmond Morris' Gestures: Their Origins and Distribution mentioned this long before 1997. '' by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1872 is the immediate source of the "thumbs down" gesture in Popular Culture .]] In Latin , the "thumbs up" gesture is called ''pollice recto'', "thumbs down" is ''pollice verso''. It is not certain that the contemporary gestures are identical to the gestures performed in Ancient Rome . The current version was popularized by a widely reproduced Academic Painting by the 19th Century artist Jean-Léon Gérôme , whose ''Pollice Verso'' depicts a triumphant gladiator standing over a fallen foe, looking up into the stands for the verdict of the crowd. Additionally, custom used to seal business transactions. Over time, the mere sight of an upraised thumb came to symbolize harmony and kind feelings. During World War II , Pilots on U.S. Aircraft Carrier s adopted the thumbs up to alert the deck crew that they were ready to go and that the wheel blocks could be removed. THE GESTURE INTERNATIONALLY The gesture's popularization in America is generally attributed to the practices of World War II pilots, who used the thumbs up to communicate with ground crews prior to take-off. This may have originated with the China -based Flying Tigers , who were among the first American flyers involved in WWII. The appreciative Chinese would say ”挺好“ ("ting hao"), meaning "very good," and gesture with a thumbs up, which in Chinese means "you're number one." It is often a sign of respect when higher figures of Chinese police is concerned. Any person from China will recognize this numerical gesture, and it can be seen in movies and photos of the era, though this has not been verified in print by AVG pilots. American GIs are reputed to have picked up on the thumb and spread it throughout Europe as they marched toward Berlin." {Link without Title} Combat pilots in the US and around the world still use this gesture.
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