0
ElgatoPL Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary

Rule of thumb

Hello,

What does it mean, that something is "good rule of thumb"? Have you met such expression and what is its origin?

Thank you in advance for your help,

Greetz from Poland:)
  

Top answer

Look at the last joint of your thumb. It's probably about an inch long. If you wanted to measure things, you could use it as a rough guide.

— MrPedantic

  • Look at the last joint of your thumb.
  • It's probably about an inch long.
  • If you wanted to measure things, you could use it as a rough guide.
  • A 'rule' means a 'measuring stick' (a 'ruler').
  • So 'a rule of thumb' means 'a rough way of checking or measuring something'.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
Look at the last joint of your thumb. It's probably about an inch long. If you wanted to measure things, you could use it as a rough guide.

A 'rule' means a 'measuring stick' (a 'ruler').

So 'a rule of thumb' means 'a rough way of checking or measuring something'.

Though now the 'rule' in the phrase seems to have associated itself with 'rule' as in 'rules and regul
0
0
It means to have a basic way of measuring things. That you can compare to anything of one sort.
0
0
Actually...the "rule of thumb" comes from England. It was a rule that said that the husband can't beat his wife with anything wider than his thumb...

...DO THEY STILL DO THAT?!?!
0
0
From what I've read, it would seem that is very little evidence that the "rule of thumb" derives from any law. The following website explains it quite clearly; http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/307000.html
.
0

Related Questions