all thumbs

as ininept
as inmaladroit
as inoafish
as inawkward
as inaccident-prone
as inuncoordinated
as inklutzy
as inclumsy

Synonyms for all thumbs

adj clumsy, unskilled; incompetent

Antonyms for all thumbs

inept

adjective. clumsy, unskilled; incompetent

Word Origin & History

Old English þuma, from West Germanic *thumon- (cf. Old Frisian thuma, Old Saxon, Old High German thumo, German Daumen, Dutch duim "thumb," Old Norse þumall "thumb of a glove"), literally "the stout or thick (finger)," from PIE *tum- "swell" (cf. Latin tumere "to swell," tumidus "swollen;" Avestan tuma "fat;" see thigh). For spelling with -b (attested from late 13c.), see limb.

To be under (someone's) thumb "be totally controlled by that person" is recorded from 1580s. Thumbs up (1887) and thumbs down (1906) were said to be from expressions of approval or the opposite in ancient amphitheaters, especially gladiator shows, where the gesture decided whether a defeated combatant was spared or slain. But the Roman gesture was merely one of hiding the thumb in the hand or extending it. Perhaps the modern gesture is from the usual coachmen's way of greeting while the hands are occupied with the reins.

all thumbs

Synonyms for all thumbs

Antonyms for all thumbs

More words related to all thumbs

accident-prone

awkward

clumsy

inept

klutzy

maladroit