thumbs-up

[ thuhmz-uhp ]
/ ˈθʌmzˈʌp /

noun Informal.

an act, instance, or gesture of assent, approval, or the like.

Origin of thumbs-up

First recorded in 1920–25

Definition for thumbs up (2 of 2)

thumb
[ thuhm ]
/ θʌm /

noun

verb (used with object)

Origin of thumb

before 900; Middle English; Old English thūma; cognate with Dutch duim, Old Saxon, Old High German dūmo (German Daumen), Old Norse thumall; akin to Latin tumēre to swell ( tumor)

OTHER WORDS FROM thumb

thumb·less, adjective thumb·like, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for thumbs up

thumb
/ (θʌm) /

noun

verb

Derived forms of thumb

thumbless, adjective thumblike, adjective

Word Origin for thumb

Old English thūma; related to Old Saxon thūma, Old High German thūmo, Old Norse thumall thumb of a glove, Latin tumēre to swell

Medical definitions for thumbs up

thumb
[ thŭm ]

n.

The short thick digit of the human hand, next to the index finger and opposable to each of the other four digits.

Cultural definitions for thumbs up

thumbs up

Expressions of approval and disapproval respectively: “The two critics disagreed about the movie; one gave it thumbs up, the other thumbs down.” In the gladiatorial contests of ancient Rome, a thumbs-up gesture from the crowd meant that the loser would live; thumbs down meant death.

Idioms and Phrases with thumbs up (1 of 2)

thumbs up

An expression of approval or hopefulness, as in The town said thumbs up on building the elderly housing project. The antonym thumbs down indicates disapproval or rejection, as in Mother gave us thumbs down on serving beer at our party. Alluding to crowd signals used in Roman amphitheaters, these idioms were first recorded in English about 1600. In ancient times the meaning of the gestures was opposite that of today. Thumbs down indicated approval; thumbs up, rejection. Exactly when the reversal occurred is not known, but the present conventions were established by the early 1900s.

Idioms and Phrases with thumbs up (2 of 2)

thumb