thumbs /θʌmz/► SEE ALLbe all thumbshold thumbs(give sb/sth/get) the thumbs up/downtwiddle your thumbs ●be all ˈthumbs ( be all ˌfingers and ˈthumbs) be unable to hold sth without dropping or damaging it; be clumsy笨手笨脚；笨拙◆He’s all thumbs when it comes to fixing machines. 要说到修机器，他可真是笨手笨脚。●hold ˈthumbs (SAfrE) hope that your plans will be successful or that sth will take place in the way that you want it to祈求计划成功（或事情随心所愿）◆Let’s hold thumbs that you get the job. 让我们祈愿你能得到这份工作。●(give sb/sth/get) the thumbs ˈup/ˈdownused to show that sth has been accepted/rejected or that it is/is not a success竖起大拇指（表示接受或取得成功）；拇指向下（表示拒绝或不成功）◆I asked him whether I could borrow the car, and he gave me the thumbs up. 我问他可不可以借他的车，他说没问题。◆I’m afraid it’s thumbs down for your new proposal — the boss doesn’t like it. 恐怕你的新提案没戏，老板不喜欢。◆We’ve got the thumbs up for the new swimming pool. 我们要求新建一个游泳池的提议得到了批准。ORIGINIn 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.在古罗马时期的角斗赛中，观众竖起拇指表示不要处死某一角斗士，反之则拇指向下。●ˌtwiddle your ˈthumbs (informal) do nothing while you are waiting for sth to happen（等待之际）无所事事，闲得无聊◆I had to sit at home twiddling my thumbs, waiting for the phone to ring.我只好在家里干坐着等电话响。NOTE If you twiddle your thumbs, you move them around each other while your fingers are joined together. * twiddle your thumbs 指抱手旋弄大拇指。