example of misunderstanding

If you find yourself on foreign soil, it's always best to know how to properly enrage your host with a native insult.

Here's a good example:
Example 1:

Margaret Thatcher mistakenly makes a palm-back v sign to English voters after an election gain. It's not the first time a politician told voters to piss off, but just not so elegantly.

Example 2

When President George Bush visited Australia on a state visit in 1993, as he passed the crowds of Aussies he flashed the “V” for Victory sign from the backseat of his limousine. Unfortunately, he did it backward that is, with the back of his hand facing people. The next day his picture appeared in newspapers from Sydney to Perth with the headline “President Insults Australia”, as in England that particular signal- the reverse “V”- signifies “Up yours”. The correct form is to have the palm face outward.

In conclusion, in most cultures; smiling means happy and frown means unhappy. [M. Argyle, Bodily Communication (New York: Methuen & Company, 1988)]. A few other gestures seem to be universal. But, most nonverbal symbols seem to be even further disconnected from any "essential meaning" than verbal symbols. Gestures seen as positive in one culture may be seen as offensive action in another culture.