thumbs up

thumbs up

A sign or indication of approval. The phrase can refer to the actual gesture, which carries the same meaning, or can be used figuratively. I loved that movie so much. I would definitely give it the thumbs up! We got a thumbs up to proceed with our plan. I assumed Paul was OK with our plan. When I told him about it, he just gave a thumbs up.
See also: thumb, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

thumbs up

 
1. a sign of approval. It was a thumbs up on the new filtration plant at Thursday's village board meeting. There was no thumbs up for the mayor as she faced certain defeat in today's balloting.
2. approving; positive. The new filtration plant got a thumbs-up decision at the board meeting. A thumbs-up vote assured another three years of financial assistance.
See also: thumb, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

thumbs up

An expression of approval or hopefulness, as in The town said thumbs up on building the elderly housing project. The antonym thumbs down indicates disapproval or rejection, as in Mother gave us thumbs down on serving beer at our party. Alluding to crowd signals used in Roman amphitheaters, these idioms were first recorded in English about 1600. In ancient times the meaning of the gestures was opposite that of today. Thumbs down indicated approval; thumbs up, rejection. Exactly when the reversal occurred is not known, but the present conventions were established by the early 1900s.
See also: thumb, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

thumbs up (or down)

an indication of satisfaction or approval (or of rejection or failure). informal
The thumbs were used to signal approval or disapproval by spectators at a Roman amphitheatre, though they used ‘thumbs down’ to signify that a beaten gladiator had performed well and should be spared, and ‘thumbs up’ to call for his death.
See also: thumb, up
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

(give somebody/something/get) the thumbs ˈup/ˈdown

used to show that something has been accepted/rejected or that it is/is not a success: I asked him whether I could borrow the car, and he gave me the thumbs up. I’m afraid it’s thumbs down for your new proposal — the boss doesn’t like it. We’ve got the thumbs up for the new swimming pool.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.
See also: down, thumb, up
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

thumbs up

1. n. a sign of approval. It was a thumbs up on the new filtration plant at Thursday’s village board meeting.
2. mod. approving; positive. The new filtration plant got a thumbs up decision at the board meeting.
See also: thumb, up
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • the thumbs up/down
  • thumbs down
  • give something the thumbs up
  • give (something) the thumbs up
  • give something the thumbs down
  • give (something) the thumbs down
  • kiss and make up
  • hold the stage
  • in reach
  • die from (something)
References in periodicals archive
It is set to get the thumbs up from fans after the unpopular off-white and green change shirts of old were ditched.
Henry's heroes to become All Blacks; ....BUT THEY WON'T SHOW US THE SHIRT
Around 50 people attended a colourful protest which was well supported by passing motorists with plenty of thumbs ups and hooting."
Protest after Surrey Union Hunt allowed to meet on National Trust land after fox-killing claims; Guildford Hunt Saboteurs shared images of a dead fox and claimed the hunt group's hounds killed it
What really showcases the sense of community is the fact that when a team completes its presentation, other team members give them the nod of approval, thumbs ups, and/or an encouraging smile as they retreat to the end of the room.
5 Myths Busted About Hackathons and The Maker Community
He broke into a smile a mile wide and gave a double thumbs ups sign to the bus as it went by.
Only in Eugene
As he walks around the park during a break, Franz gets thumbs ups and waves from truck drivers, security guards and homeless people.
Local color: although largely shot in L.A., `Blue' crew makes annual N.Y. pilgrimage for authenticity. (Television)
In a state-of-the-art poll, carried out by e-mail in the hours after the Dail event, 80 per cent of the Institute of Chartered Accounts signalled the thumbs ups.
Money: Accountants give Charlie thumbs up