bite (one's) thumb at

(redirected from bite their thumbs at)

bite (one's) thumb at

An archaic insult, often accompanied by the gesture of biting one's thumb at the person being insulted. How dare you say that to me? I bite my thumb at you, sir!
See also: bite, thumb
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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References in classic literature ?
The fairies take an hour longer in the morning, the beasts attend to their young, the redskins feed heavily for six days and nights, and when pirates and lost boys meet they merely bite their thumbs at each other.
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