The gesture has been linked to the time of the Roman arena, where the emperor or mob supposedly ordered life or death for a gladiator by giving the thumbs up or down.

• 这种手势和罗马竞技场有关。在竞技场上，帝王或者是观看角斗表演的人竖起拇指，表示他们想放过角斗士；拇指朝下则表示他们想处死角斗士。