thumb (redirected from thumbs)

be all fingers and thumbs (British & Australian, American)

to be awkward with your hands and keep making mistakes. Can you thread this needle for me? I'm all thumbs today. You know when you get nervous and you're all fingers and thumbs.

See also: all, finger

be under the thumb (British & Australian, informal)

if a man is under the thumb, he is completely controlled by his wife. He won't be able to do any of this without his wife's permission. He's under the thumb these days.

be under someone's thumb

if you are under someone's thumb, they control you completely. The committee is firmly under his thumb and will agree to whatever he asks.

get the thumbs down

give something the thumbs down - to show that you do not like or approve of something, or that you will not allow something to happen. My new hairstyle got the thumbs down from my family. (often + from)

See also: down

get the thumbs up

give something the thumbs up - to show that you like or approve of something or that you are happy for something to happen. We got the thumbs up from the council to hold a fireworks party on the village green. (often + from)

give something the thumbs down

to show that you do not like or approve of something, or that you will not allow something to happen. The committee gave my suggestion the thumbs down.

See also: down, give

give something the thumbs up

to show that you like or approve of something or that you are happy for something to happen. We all gave Mary's cake the thumbs up. A new injectable treatment has been given the thumbs up by the authority.

See also: give

have green fingers (British & Australian, American)

to be good at keeping plants healthy and making them grow. I'm afraid I don't have green fingers. I've killed every plant I've ever owned. I was just admiring your beautiful plants, Helen. You must have a green thumb.

See also: finger, green

a rule of thumb

a way of calculating something which is not exact but which will help you to be correct enough. A good rule of thumb is to cook two handfuls of rice per person.

See also: rule

stand/stick out like a sore thumb

if someone or something sticks out like a sore thumb, everyone notices them because they are very different from the other people or things around them. Everyone else was in jeans and casual gear and I had my office clothes on - I stuck out like a sore thumb.

See also: like, sore, stand, stick

thumb your nose at something/someone

to show that you do not respect rules, laws, or powerful people or organizations. The actor, in a further attempt to thumb his nose at Hollywood, declined to accept the award.

See also: nose

twiddle your thumbs

to have nothing useful to do while you are waiting for something to happen. Until I get the go-ahead, I'm just sitting around twiddling my thumbs.

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all thumbs

awkward in handling things. Can you thread this needle for me? I'm all thumbs.

See also: all

stick out like a sore thumb

to be easily noticed as different. Ted wore old jeans to the party, and he stuck out like a sore thumb among all the well-dressed guests.

See also: like, sore, stick

thumb your nose at someone/something

to show that you do not respect someone or something. Many people feel that the company is thumbing its nose at the environment by reopening the mine.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of thumb your nose (= to put your thumb to your nose as a rude sign)

See also: nose

thumb through something

to quickly look at a pile of papers or the pages of a magazine or book. Quinn thumbed through his messages until he found the slip with Ritter's phone number on it. Bella had to wait for Jill so she passed the time thumbing through magazines.

See also: through

(give a) thumbs down to someone/something

to show disapproval of or opposition to someone or something. My husband gave a big thumbs down to my idea of getting a new car.

Usage notes: often used in the form give the thumbs down (to something): Voters gave the thumbs down to building a new firehouse.

(give a) thumbs up to someone/something

See also: down

(give a) thumbs up to someone/something

to show approval of or support for someone or something. Voters gave a thumbs up to building swimming pool for the town.

Usage notes: often used in the form give the thumbs up (to something): We have been given the thumbs up and will begin work next week.

(give a) thumbs down to someone/something

twiddle your thumbs

to do nothing. Dan spent a whole day twiddling his thumbs, waiting for a package to be delivered.

under someone's/something's thumb

completely controlled by someone or something. That girl is totally under her mother's thumb.