“I Got Your Nose!”

Dear Suze Q. My uncle teased his young daughter at a neighborhood gathering where he pretended to pluck her nose and showed her the stolen body part. She shrieked with laughter, but it almost started a major ruckus and several people got visibly upset. What happened?

Dear Niece, This game is only familiar and funny in some English-speaking countries. The hand position used with the alleged stolen nose is also known as the "fig sign," which is an offensive or obscene gesture in cultures such as Turkey, where it is the equivalent of giving the "middle finger;" Japan, where it refers to copulation; or other countries where it is used to ward off the "evil eye," insult someone, or deny a request. Sometimes, it's important to use your words to explain even the most innocent of gestures. ✌ -SQ