The gesture of thumbs up is often believed to originate in ancient Rome following gladiatorial combat when the fate of a defeated warrior was decided by spectators watching the event. They would gesture either with thumbs downturned - to mimic the stabbing motion of a dagger - to indicate the warrior be executed, or if the warrior had fought well, an upturned thumb - or thumbs up - would signify the warrior could be spared.



拇指朝上的這個(gè)動(dòng)作可能源于古羅馬時(shí)代角斗士的武斗。在那時(shí)，輸了的角斗士的命運(yùn)將由觀眾決定。如果觀眾做出拇指朝下的手勢(shì)，就像是一把匕首向下插的樣子，這就意味著角斗者會(huì)被處死。如果觀眾認(rèn)為角斗者表現(xiàn)得很好，則做出拇指朝上的手勢(shì)，表示可以饒他一命。