What is the origin of the idiom 'to hold thumbs'?

Answers.com > Wiki Answers > Categories > Literature & Language > English Language > Word and Phrase Origins > What is the origin of the idiom 'to hold thumbs'?
Answer:

  • My parents are British/South Africans and still use this today with my siblings and me - and even with their American grandkids. I always confuse my American friends when I use the expression.

    My understanding is that it's a British version of America's "Cross your fingers," which basically means, "Hope that this happens.

    I also assume that the origin comes from the physical act of taking your thumb and placing it in the palm of your hand with the tip of the thumb pointing out from between your middle finger and your index finger (as your fingers are wrapped down in a fist gesture). Since usually this is done in both hands while giving the gesture of "Holding thumbs" the plural is used since you're doing it with both thumbs.

  • A German expression indicating that you are wishing someone well or luck in something is to say you will "press your thumb" for them. It is done with the thumb of one hand only, bending it inside the index finger and pressing on the outer joint of the thumb with the fingers curled around it.

    This expression may also be used in the Netherlands, leading to the South African use of it as discussed above. The expression to "Cross your fingers" is common in the UK and parts of Europe and has been used there for centuries.

  • Both the above contain correct elements: in South Africa, with Afrikaans and English being spoken alongside, one gets many Germanic expression taken into South African English. Thus, the Afrikaans expression "Duim vashou" has been directly translated and you find English-speaking South Africans using "Hold thumbs" instead of "Crossing fingers..

  • the physical act of taking your thumb and placing it in the palm of your hand with the tip of the thumb pointing out from between your middle finger and your index finger... is actually used as quite a rude gesture in South Africa, along the same lines as raising your middle finger to someone.
First answer by ID1067918692. Last edit by PlettRocks. Contributor trust: 0 [recommend contributorrecommended]. Question popularity: 121 [recommend question].

Can you answer these Word and Phrase Origins questions?

Relevant answers:

Related videos:

View more literature and language videos

Related Ads:

Related ads:

Sign in using:

Answers.com members:




Create account
Join using:

Join Answers.com:





Already a member?
Sign in
Why join?
Joining is free and easy. You can still be anonymous; just choose any username and password.

  • Get notified about updated answers
  • Follow your favorite categories
  • Get credit for your contributions
  • Customize your profile
  • Answer questions more easily
Not convinced? Read more.
Lost your password?

You may already have an Answers.com account.
Click here to connect your accounts.  
If you don't want to connect accounts, you can start a new one from scratch.
Minor details...


  

Connect your accounts...




Lost password?
Why do we need your email address?
We will use your email address to send you updates (if you request them) about questions you ask, answer or track, and to help you retrieve your password if you forget it.

Your email address will not be used for any other purpose without your permission.
Already have an Answers.com account? Connect your accounts!
By doing so, you include all of your history (contributions, messages, profile) from your Answers.com account in your Facebook account.

If you don't connect accounts, your new account will be starting from scratch.

Home

Welcome
Help center
Browse categories
Random question
Community forum