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thumb

thumbnoun

American /θʌm/ British /θʌm/ The b at the end is silent, as in comb and climb.

plural thumbs

the short thick finger on the side of the hand, set apart from the other four and used for holding on to things
countable [C] human body
- He hurt his thumb while opening the jar.
- The baby put her thumb in her mouth.
- She held the phone steady with her thumb.
- You use your thumb and first finger to hold a pencil.
Collocations
verb + noun suck your thumb, hurt your thumb, hold something with your thumb
Compare finger (the thumb is the short, thick digit set apart from the four fingers)
For translators (sense 1)
Meaning across languages Some languages count the thumb as one of the fingers and have no separate word for it; English usually treats the thumb as distinct from the fingers, though casual counting sometimes includes it as one.

Phrases

thumbs up informal

a sign made by holding up the thumb to show that you agree with something or like it

The coach gave the team a thumbs up.
She gave a thumbs up to show she agreed.

For translators (phrase)

Cultural background The thumbs up gesture is a friendly sign of approval in most English-speaking countries; in some other cultures the same gesture is rude or means something different.

thumbs down informal

a sign made by pointing the thumb down to show that you do not like something or do not agree with it

The judges gave the performance a thumbs down.
He gave the idea a thumbs down.

under someone's thumb informal disapproving

completely controlled by someone

He keeps his whole family under his thumb.
She refused to be kept under her boss's thumb.

rule of thumb

a simple, useful method or guide based on experience rather than exact science

As a rule of thumb, cook the rice for twenty minutes.
A good rule of thumb is to arrive fifteen minutes early.

green thumb informal American approving

a natural skill for growing plants

My grandmother has a green thumb; everything she plants grows well.
You need a green thumb to keep this garden looking so good.

For translators (phrase)

Cultural background British speakers say green fingers for the same idea.

stick out like a sore thumb informal

be very noticeable because you are so different from everything around you

In his suit, he stuck out like a sore thumb at the beach party.
The new building sticks out like a sore thumb next to the old houses.

Word family

thumbprint

See also thumb (the verb, as in thumb through a book or thumb a ride)