THUMBS Meaning and
Definition
-
Thumbs, as a noun, refer to the short, thick digits located on the human hand. They are positioned laterally and oppose the other four fingers, allowing a person to grasp or hold objects with a greater level of dexterity and precision. The thumb is anatomically characterized by having two phalanges (the distal and proximal), making it more flexible than the other fingers. This digit is also capable of rotation due to its unique saddle-shaped joint, which grants humans a powerful grip and enables important hand movements such as writing, grasping, and gripping tools. Furthermore, the opposable nature of the thumb distinguishes humans from most animals and plays a crucial role in skills such as tool use, manipulating objects, and performing intricate tasks.
In addition to its physical function, the term "thumbs" can also be used in the context of approval or disapproval, symbolizing a positive or negative opinion. This usage originates from the ancient Roman empire, where the audience would raise their thumbs to express their judgment towards a gladiator or performer during a fight or show. A thumbs-up gesture represents a favorable opinion or assent, while a thumbs-down gesture indicates disapproval or rejection. Due to its simplicity and universal understanding, this hand gesture is commonly employed in a variety of daily situations to convey one's sentiment without the need for verbal communication.
Top Common Misspellings for THUMBS *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for THUMBS
Etymology of THUMBS
The word "thumbs" derives from the Old English word "thumb", which can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "*thumō" and the Proto-Indo-European root "*tumós". The "thumō" in Old English eventually evolved into "thumb" in Middle English, and has remained relatively unchanged ever since. It is worth mentioning that the word for thumb in other languages, such as German "Daumen" or Dutch "duim", also originated from the same Proto-Germanic source.
Idioms with the word THUMBS
-
be all thumbs, at be all fingers and thumbs
The idiom "be all thumbs" or "be all fingers and thumbs" is used to describe someone who is clumsily or awkwardly handling something, typically due to a lack of dexterity or coordination. It signifies being inept or having difficulty performing a task that requires precision or manual skill.
-
all (fingers and) thumbs
The idiom "all (fingers and) thumbs" is used to describe someone as being clumsy, awkward, or lacking coordination, particularly in manual tasks or handling objects. It implies that the person is not proficient or skilled in performing certain activities with their hands.
-
thumbs down
The idiom "thumbs down" refers to a gesture indicating disapproval or rejection of someone or something. It stems from ancient Roman gladiatorial games, where the audience used their thumbs to either spare the defeated combatant by pointing them sideways (thumbs up) or to condemn them to death by pointing them downwards (thumbs down). In modern usage, "thumbs down" means to express a negative judgment, disagreement, or refusal.
-
thumbs up
The idiom "thumbs up" means to give approval or to show a positive response to something. It is derived from the gesture of raising one's thumb to indicate approval or agreement.
-
be all fingers and thumbs
To be all fingers and thumbs means to be clumsy, awkward, or clumsy with one's hands or actions. It describes someone who is having difficulty performing a task or handling objects skillfully.
-
twiddle your thumbs
The idiom "twiddle your thumbs" means to be inactive or bored, usually indicating that someone has nothing to do or is waiting idle without any purpose or productivity. It refers to the act of moving one's thumbs around each other in a circular or aimless manner, typically done when one is bored or has nothing else to occupy their time.
-
all thumbs
The idiom "all thumbs" means to be clumsy or awkward, especially with one's hands.
-
(give a) thumbs up to sb/sth
The idiom "(give a) thumbs up to sb/sth" means to show approval, agreement, or support towards someone or something. It is typically expressed through a gesture involving raising the thumb upward, signifying a positive response or acknowledgement.
-
(give a) thumbs down to sb/sth
To "(give a) thumbs down to sb/sth" means to display disapproval, rejection, or dissatisfaction towards someone or something. It is often used to express a negative judgment or criticism, indicating that one does not support or approve of a person, idea, or action. The idiom originates from the ancient Roman practice of the audience signaling their verdict in the Colosseum by either giving a thumbs-up (indicating mercy) or thumbs-down (indicating execution).
-
give sth the thumbs up
The idiom "give something the thumbs up" means to express approval or give a positive evaluation or endorsement to something. It originates from the ancient Roman practice of using thumbs to indicate a gladiator's fate in the Colosseum, where a thumbs-up represented sparing their life or showing approval. In modern usage, it refers to giving a positive nod, supporting or agreeing with something.
-
give sth the thumbs down
To "give something the thumbs down" means to express disapproval or rejection of something, typically a proposal, idea, or performance. It originates from the ancient Roman practice of giving a thumbs-down gesture to condemn gladiators to death in the arena. In modern usage, it signifies a negative verdict or decision towards something being evaluated.
-
twiddle one's thumbs
The idiom "twiddle one's thumbs" is used to describe someone who is idle, bored, or doing nothing. It means to impatiently wait or pass time by moving one's thumbs in a circular or aimless manner.
-
turn thumbs up (on sm or sth)
The idiom "turn thumbs up (on sm or sth)" typically means to give approval or show support for someone or something. It refers to the gesture of giving a thumbs-up, which universally signifies agreement, approval, or positivity. So when someone says they "turn thumbs up" on something, it implies that they are expressing a favorable opinion or showing their endorsement.
-
turn thumbs down (on sm or sth)
The idiom "turn thumbs down (on someone or something)" means to reject or disapprove of someone or something. It originates from ancient Roman gladiatorial matches where the audience used a thumbs-down gesture to signal their disapproval for a defeated gladiator, who would then be put to death. In modern usage, it refers to expressing a negative judgment or rejecting a proposal, idea, or person.
-
turn thumbs up
The idiom "turn thumbs up" means to give approval or show support for something or someone. It originated from the ancient Roman practice of giving a literal thumbs-up gesture to indicate approval and spare a defeated gladiator's life.
-
turn thumbs down
The idiom "turn thumbs down" means to reject or disapprove of something or someone. It originates from the ancient Roman gladiatorial contests, where an audience member would turn their thumb downwards as a signal to condemn a defeated gladiator to death. Thus, the phrase has come to represent a negative judgment or refusal.
-
be all thumbs
The idiom "be all thumbs" refers to someone who is clumsy or awkward, particularly when it comes to using their hands or fingers skillfully. It implies a lack of dexterity or coordination in performing tasks that require manual skills.
-
give (something) the thumbs down
The idiom "give (something) the thumbs down" means to express disapproval or rejection of something, often by use of a simple hand gesture mimicking a thumbs-down sign. It signifies a negative judgment or decision regarding a particular matter, indicating that something is not deemed favorable or acceptable.
-
give (something) the thumbs up
The idiom "give (something) the thumbs up" means to express approval or endorsement for something, typically by using a thumbs-up gesture. It signifies giving permission, showing support, or indicating that something is good or accepted.
-
hold (one's) thumbs
The idiom "hold (one's) thumbs" is primarily used in British English and it means to wish or hope for someone's success or good luck. It is equivalent to the American English idiom "cross (one's) fingers."
-
hold thumbs
The idiom "hold thumbs" is primarily used in South African English and means to hope or wish for good luck or success. It is similar to the idiom "cross your fingers" in other English-speaking countries.
-
hold your thumbs
To "hold your thumbs" means to keep one's fingers crossed or wish someone good luck.
-
a pricking in your thumbs
A sense of unease or foreboding, typically based on an instinct or intuition. This phrase is often associated with a feeling of impending danger or something sinister.
Similar spelling word for THUMBS
Conjugate verb Thumbs
CONDITIONAL
I
would thumb
we
would thumb
you
would thumb
he/she/it
would thumb
they
would thumb
FUTURE
I
will thumb
we
will thumb
you
will thumb
he/she/it
will thumb
they
will thumb
FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have thumbed
we
will have thumbed
you
will have thumbed
he/she/it
will have thumbed
they
will have thumbed
PAST
I
thumbed
we
thumbed
you
thumbed
he/she/it
thumbed
they
thumbed
PAST PERFECT
I
had thumbed
we
had thumbed
you
had thumbed
he/she/it
had thumbed
they
had thumbed
PRESENT
I
thumb
we
thumb
you
thumb
he/she/it
thumbs
they
thumb
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have thumbed
we
have thumbed
you
have thumbed
he/she/it
has thumbed
they
have thumbed
I
am thumbing
we
are thumbing
you
are thumbing
he/she/it
is thumbing
they
are thumbing
I
was thumbing
we
were thumbing
you
were thumbing
he/she/it
was thumbing
they
were thumbing
I
will be thumbing
we
will be thumbing
you
will be thumbing
he/she/it
will be thumbing
they
will be thumbing
I
have been thumbing
we
have been thumbing
you
have been thumbing
he/she/it
has been thumbing
they
have been thumbing
I
had been thumbing
we
had been thumbing
you
had been thumbing
he/she/it
had been thumbing
they
had been thumbing
I
will have been thumbing
we
will have been thumbing
you
will have been thumbing
he/she/it
will have been thumbing
they
will have been thumbing
I
would have thumbed
we
would have thumbed
you
would have thumbed
he/she/it
would have thumbed
they
would have thumbed
I
would be thumbing
we
would be thumbing
you
would be thumbing
he/she/it
would be thumbing
they
would be thumbing
I
would have been thumbing
we
would have been thumbing
you
would have been thumbing
he/she/it
would have been thumbing
they
would have been thumbing
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
