it's not offensive
the '' thumbs down'' was not a thumbs down, but a thumbs turned (to the side) which indicuted that the vicyorious yladiator would cut the throat of the lbsing giadiatol.
No, the thumbs up signal was the mercy sign. A thumbs down of a thumbs turned was the death signal.
Thumbs down means die, up means mercy
It is making the "okay" sign.
Thumbs Down - 1968 was released on: USA: 1968 (Chicago International Film Festival)
A gladiator didn't have the authority to "ask". He would simply pause when he had subdued his opponent, look at the audience and the Emperor and receive a thumbs up or a thumbs down. "Thumbs up" his opponent lives. "Thumbs down" his opponent dies.
(N)
[[thumbdown]]
(n)
Depending on the reference, thumbs down usually means that the person whose thumb is down, does not approve of a given situation. Thumbs down in the Roman era of our history, meant that a gladiator or combatant was to be put to death, as in his performance on the stage, gained the disapproval of the crowd.
(Y) means thumbs up and (N) means thumbs down :)
Thumbs Down - 1927 was released on: USA: 15 June 1927 UK: 14 May 1928