thumbs up

thumbs up
→ thumb

* * *

interjection
— used to raise one's spirits or to express a hope of good fortune

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thumbs up
1. A sign indicating approval, success, hope of, or wishes for, success, etc (also figurative
2. Thumbs-upˈ noun
).
• • •
Main Entry: ↑thumb

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thumbs up (or down)
informal an indication of satisfaction or approval (or of rejection or failure)

plans to build a house on the site have been given the thumbs down by the Department of the Environment

Origin:
with reference to the signal of approval or disapproval, used by spectators at a Roman amphitheater; the sense has been reversed, as the Romans used ‘thumbs down’ to signify that a beaten gladiator had performed well and should be spared, and ‘thumbs up’ to call for his death

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thumbs ˈup/ˈdown idiom
(informal) used to show that sth has been accepted/rejected or that it is/is not a success

•

Their proposals

were given the thumbs down

.

•

It looks like it's thumbs up for their latest album.

In contests in ancient Rome the public put their thumbs up if they wanted a gladiator to live, and down if they wanted him to be killed.
Main entry: ↑thumbidiom

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Thumbs.db — Thumbs.db  специальный файл, используемый операционной системой Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista и прочими операционными системами компании Microsoft, в котором хранятся эскизы изображений папки для режима «Эскизы страниц»… …   Википедия

  • Thumbs — Thumbs.db  специальный файл, используемый операционной системой Microsoft Windows XP, в котором хранятся эскизы изображений папки для режима «Эскизы страниц» Проводника. Thumbs.db создается в каждой папке, которая содержит изображения, при первом …   Википедия

  • Thumbs.db — est un fichier caché créé par l Explorateur Windows du système d exploitation Microsoft Windows NT (à partir de sa version 5.1/XP). Il a pour but de créer et enregistrer une miniature des différents fichiers se trouvant dans le même répertoire… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Thumbs! — is a collective term for the O Entertainment short films created by Steve Oedekerk using Thumbation technology, a process which combines live action thumbs and CGI faces. The first short, Thumb Wars , was created as a television special and… …   Wikipedia

  • thumbs-up — thumbs′ up′ n. cvb inf an act, instance, or gesture of approval or support …   From formal English to slang

  • thumbs up — ► thumbs up (or down) informal an indication of satisfaction or approval (or of rejection or failure). [ORIGIN: with reference to the signal of approval or disapproval used by spectators at a Roman amphitheatre (although the Romans used the… …   English terms dictionary

  • Thumbs up — For the Chinese newspaper, see Thumbs Up (newspaper). For the Indian Cola drink, see Thums UpA thumbs up or thumbs down is a common gesture represented by a closed fist held with the thumb extended upward or downward in approval or disapproval… …   Wikipedia

  • thumbs-up — n approval, affirmation, encouragement, acceptance, yes, sanction COLLOQ. go ahead, green light, OK ≠ thumbs down * * * ¦ ̷ ̷ ˈ ̷ ̷ noun ( s) : an instance or gesture of approval or encouragement * * * /thumz up /, n. Informal. an act, instan …   Useful english dictionary

  • thumbs-up — also thumbs up 1) N SING A thumbs up or a thumbs up sign is a sign that you make by raising your thumb to show that you agree with someone, that you are happy with an idea or situation, or that everything is all right. She checked the hall, then… …   English dictionary

  • thumbs —    A surprising number of gestures and practices of past times involved the thumb. The folding of the thumb into the palm of the hand, with the other fingers closed over it, was believed to be a protection against witches, or general evil:… …   A Dictionary of English folklore

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