But if this hand gesture is accompanied by thumbs pointing upwards, it means that even though he is restraining himself, he has got something powerful to say. A person displaying thumbs may also lean backward (apathy), tilt their head back, exposing the neck (dominance), or rock on the balls of their feet to increase their height (high status).

A thumbs-up gesture indicating approval. In certain contexts, the use of the Thumbs Up emoji can be construed as being passive aggressive or sarcastic. Despite this possible use, it remains a popular means of quickly and earnestly expressing approval.

A thumb signal, usually described as a thumbs-up or thumbs-down, is a common hand gesture achieved by a closed fist held with the thumb extended upward or downward in approval or disapproval, respectively.

On its own, a thumbs-up emoji can indicate “OK” or “Got it.” For example, if one person asked to meet another at 2:30, the other person could acknowledge the appointment with a thumbs-up emoji.