all thumbs
all thumbs (idiom)
/ɔːl θʌmz/
Meaning
- Signifies being awkward or uncoordinated, especially with one’s hands, leading to frequent mishandling of objects.
- Denotes a tendency to fumble or perform tasks ineptly, particularly those requiring fine motor skills.
- Refers to the state of being clumsy or unskilled in physical activities, often resulting in accidents or mistakes.
- It is used to describe a person’s lack of manual dexterity or clumsiness.
Example Sentences
- Sarah tried to sew a button, but she was all thumbs and kept dropping the needle.
- He wanted to fix the broken vase, but being all thumbs, he only made it worse.
- I’m all thumbs when it comes to wrapping gifts neatly.
- The rookie mechanic was all thumbs with the wrench on his first day.
- She avoids DIY projects because she’s all thumbs with tools.
Origin and History
The origins of the idiom “all thumbs” can be traced back several centuries, evolving through various expressions and cultural interpretations.
The earliest known reference to the concept appears in John Heywood’s 1546 collection, A Dialogue Conteinyng the Nomber in Effect of All the Prouerbes in the Englishe Tongue. Heywood included the proverb: “When he should get aught, each finger is a thumb,” suggesting that having all fingers as thumbs would render one’s hands clumsy and uncoordinated.
19th-Century Usage
By the 19th century, the expression had evolved into the phrase “all thumbs.” An 1870 publication of The Echo noted:
“Your uneducated man is all thumbs, as the phrase runs; and what education does for him is to supply him with clever fingers.”
This indicates that by this time, “all thumbs” was a recognized idiom describing clumsiness or lack of skill.
Variants and Related Expressions
A related British variant, “all fingers and thumbs,” emerged in the 19th century. The Oxford English Dictionary cites its earliest use in 1815. This version conveys a similar meaning, emphasizing awkwardness in manual tasks.
Cultural Interpretations
The phrase “all thumbs” illustrates how language can reflect physical metaphors. The thumb, while essential, lacks the agility of fingers. Imagining a hand composed entirely of thumbs evokes a sense of ineptitude in performing delicate tasks. This visualization has solidified the idiom’s association with clumsiness.
Synonyms
- butterfingers
- clumsy as an ox
- ham-fisted
- two left feet
- like a bull in a China shop
Variants
- all fingers and thumbs (chiefly British)
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