green thumb

SEE SYNONYMS FOR green thumb ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an exceptional aptitude for gardening or for growing plants successfully: Houseplants provide much pleasure for the city dweller with a green thumb.

Origin of green thumb

First recorded in 1940–45

OTHER WORDS FROM green thumb

green-thumbed, adjective green-thumb·er, noun

Words nearby green thumb

green strength, green stuff, green sulfur bacteria, green tax, green tea, green thumb, green turtle, green vegetable, green verditer, green vitriol, green with envy

Words related to green thumb

gardener, grower, horticulturist, propagator

British Dictionary definitions for green thumb

green thumb

noun

US and Canadian considerable talent or ability to grow plants Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): green fingers

Cultural definitions for green thumb

green thumb

A knack for growing plants and keeping them healthy: “All my houseplants are in sorry shape; it's clear I don't have a green thumb.”

Idioms and Phrases with green thumb

green thumb

A knack for making plants grow well, as in Just look at Louise's plants—she really has a green thumb. This term presumably alludes to the stained fingers of an avid gardener. [First half of 1900s]