thumb (redirected from thumbs nose at)

*under someone's thumb

Fig. under someone's control and management. (*Typically: get someone ~; have someone ~; hold someone ~; keep someone ~.) You can't keep your kids under your thumb all their lives. I don't want to have these people under my thumb. I'm not the manager type.

all thumbs

Fig. very awkward and clumsy, especially with one's hands. Poor Bob can't play the piano at all. He's all thumbs. Mary is all thumbs when it comes to gardening.

have a green thumb

Fig. to have the ability to grow plants well. Just look at Mr. Simpson's garden. He has a green thumb. My mother has a green thumb when it comes to houseplants.

See also: green, have

rule of thumb

a general principle developed through experiential rather than scientific means. As a rule of thumb, I move my houseplants outside in May. Going by a rule of thumb, we stop for gas every 200 miles when we are traveling.

See also: rule

stick out like a sore thumb

Fig. to be very obvious. That pimple really sticks out like a sore thumb. Do you think I would stick out like a sore thumb at the party if I wear this coat?

See also: like, out, sore, stick

thumb a ride and hitch a ride

to get a ride from a passing motorist; to make a sign with one's thumb that indicates to passing drivers that one is asking for a ride. My car broke down on the highway, and I had to thumb a ride to get back to town. Sometimes it's dangerous to hitch a ride with a stranger.

See also: ride

thumb one's nose at someone or something 

1. Lit. to show a sign of derision at someone or something by placing the thumb to the side of the nose. (Often while wiggling the other fingers of the hand.) Don't thumb your nose at me unless you want a fight. Fred thumbed his nose at the car as it drove off.

2. Fig. to dismiss someone or something as worthless, verbally. Walter thumbed his nose at Fred and asked the gang to send someone else to do the job. She thumbed her nose at the whole idea.

See also: nose

thumb through something and leaf through something

to look through a book, magazine, or newspaper, without reading it carefully. I've only thumbed through this book, but it looks very interesting. I leafed through a magazine while waiting to see the doctor.

See also: through

thumbs down 

1. a sign of disapproval. The board gave our proposal a thumbs down. The administration's tax bill got a thumbs down in Congress.

2. disapproving; negative. It was thumbs down, and I was disappointed. The thumbs-down decision was a victory for good sense.

thumbs up 

1. a sign of approval. It was a thumbs up on the new filtration plant at Thursday's village board meeting. There was no thumbs up for the mayor as she faced certain defeat in today's balloting.

2. approving; positive. The new filtration plant got a thumbs-up decision at the board meeting. A thumbs-up vote assured another three years of financial assistance.

See also: up

turn thumbs down (on someone or something)

Fig. to reject someone or something; to grow to reject someone or something. The boss turned thumbs down on Tom. They would have to find someone else. The minute I saw it, I turned thumbs down.

See also: turn

turn thumbs up (on someone or something)

Fig. to accept someone or something; to approve someone or something. The board of directors turned thumbs up on my proposal and voted to fund the project. The committee turned thumbs upon Carl as the new manager. When the boss turned thumbs up, I knew everything was okay.

See also: turn, up

twiddle one's thumbs

Fig. to pass the time by twirling one's thumbs. What am I supposed to do while waiting for you? Sit here and twiddle my thumbs? Don't sit around twiddling your thumbs. Get busy!

See also: twiddle

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a rule of thumb

a way of calculating something which is not exact but which will help you to be correct enough

Usage notes: A rule of thumb was originally a way of measuring using the width or length of your thumb.

A good rule of thumb is to cook two handfuls of rice per person.

See also: rule

be all fingers and thumbs  (British & Australian) also be all thumbs (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: and, finger

be under somebody'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. (British & Australian informal)

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: 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 twiddle thumbs

See also: give, up

have green fingers  (British & Australian) also have a green thumb (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. (British & Australian)

See also: finger, green, have

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, out, sore, stand

thumb your nose at something/somebody

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.

See also: twiddle

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(give a) thumbs down to somebody/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.

Opposite of: (give a) thumbs up to somebody/something

(give a) thumbs up to somebody/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.

Opposite of: (give a) thumbs down to somebody/something

See also: up

all thumbs

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

stick out like a sore thumb also stand 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, out, sore, stick

thumb your nose at somebody/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

twiddle your thumbs

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

See also: twiddle

under somebody's/something's thumb also under the thumb of somebody/something

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