n. 1 Technical pollex. 2 all thumbs. awkward, clumsy, maladroit, Colloq butter-fingered, ham-fisted, cack-handed I am all thumbs when it comes to threading needles 3 give (something) the thumbs down or turn thumbs down (on). disapprove (of), reject, rebuff, turn down We turned thumbs down to the idea of a picnic 4 turn or give thumbs up (to). approve (of), accept, welcome, Colloq OK or okay The boss gave thumbs up to our request for a Christmas party 5 under (one's) thumb. under (one's) control, wrapped (a)round (one's) little finger, in the palm of (one's) hand, eating out of (one's hand), at (one's) beck and call She has the directors under her thumb
v. 6 hitchhike, Colloq hitch, US hook a ride They thumbed their way across the country 7 Often, thumb through. leaf (through), flick or flip (through), riffle (through), skim (through), browse (through) I was thumbing through City Life and came across your picture, Bernard! 8 thumb (one's) nose at scoff at, deride, jeer at, mock, dismiss, scorn, flout, be contemptuous of, show contempt for, exhibit defiance for, be defiant of, contemn, Brit cock a snook at He has thumbed his nose at authority all his life