What does the expression all fingers and thumbs mean?

What’s the meaning of the phrase ‘All fingers and thumbs’? Clumsy, unable to hold things steadily in one’s hands. ‘All fingers and thumbs’ is how we might describe ourselves during a temporary loss of manual dexterity.

Where does the phrase all fingers and thumbs come from?

Physically awkward, especially with respect to the hands, as in When it comes to knitting, Mary is all thumbs. The notion of this idiom derives from a proverb in John Heywood’s collection of 1546: “When he should get aught, each finger is a thumb.”

What does the idiom you’re all thumbs mean?

The idiom ‘I am all thumbs’ used to mean that a person is clumsy. Clumsy means that a person is awkward and uncoordinated. If you told your child, “You are all thumbs”, this would be considered negative statement, not a compliment.

What is meant by dribs and drabs?

Definition of dribs and drabs informal. : small amounts that come or happen over a period of time They received donations in dribs and drabs.

What is to bring the house down?

phrase. If a person or their performance or speech brings the house down, the audience claps, laughs, or shouts loudly because the performance or speech is very impressive or amusing.

What is chalk and cheese mean?

When you say that two people are like ‘chalk and cheese’, you are suggesting that the two are very different from each other; they have nothing in common. The expression, which has the same meaning as ‘apples and oranges’, can be used with things as well. They’re like chalk and cheese.

How do you use all thumbs in a sentence?

Idiom: all thumbs

1. — My husband dropped my mother’s fine crystal glass as she handed it to him, proving once again that he’s all thumbs.
2. — I wish I could paint like you but I’m all thumbs.
3. — You’re so lucky that your husband is handy around the house.

What does the idiom bread and butter mean?

1a : being as basic as the earning of one’s livelihood bread-and-butter issues. b(1) : reliable our bread-and-butter repertoire. (2) : dependable as a source of income a company’s bread-and-butter products. 2 : sent or given as thanks for hospitality a bread-and-butter letter.

What does pay an arm and a leg means?

Definition of an arm and a leg informal. : a very large amount of money It’s a reliable car, and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.