be all thumbs

be all thumbs

To be uncoordinated or clumsy with one's hands. My mother does beautiful calligraphy, but I'm all thumbs—I can barely hold the pen!

See also: all, thumb

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

be all ˈthumbs

(also be all ˌfingers and ˈthumbs) be unable to hold something without dropping or damaging it; be clumsy: He’s all thumbs when it comes to fixing machines.

See also: all, thumb

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

all thumbs, to be

To be clumsy. The locution was already considered proverbial in John Heywood’s collection in 1546 (“When he should get ought, eche fynger is a thumbe”) and has been repeated countless times since.

See also: all, to

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer