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JCDenton Posted 18 years ago
Vocabulary

sticking the thumb in someones eye..??

0Hi my EF friends,02br
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00I just finished translation of the new CSI Las Vegas episode, for my parents and my friends. It was quite easy, except of one little thing....Guys from america, can you explain me your phrase "01b00sticking the thumb in someones eye02b00" ?? Im sure that it have special meaning...According to the examples, which I found on the internet, I'd bet that it means "01i00make a joke on someones account02i00" ..."01i00or not to tell the truth to someone02i00"...Examples from inet:02br
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00- 01i00He fired the first salvo in 2003 and has been 01b00sticking his thumb in02b00 Islamist eyes ever since 02i02br
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01i00- Mr. McCain, who has delighted in 01b00sticking his thumb in02b00 the eye of mainstream Republicans ...02i02br
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00- 01i00George Bush is 01b00sticking his thumb in02b00 the eye of his base," says Mark Krikorian02i02br
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00Or mentioned situation from CSI episode: 02br
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00(CSIs found the dead body of a girl in the box. The body in the box was arranged like a body on the funeral...)..CSIs were thinking why...One of them said:02br
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01i00- Maybe the killer's just 01b00sticking his thumb in God's eye02b00. Or practicing to be a mortician.02i02br
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00Many thanks in advance for your clarification...02br
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00your Regular member ..:-)02br
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00JCD 0-
  

Top answer

02br 02br 00 It just seems to mean "to provoke, to taunt". 02br 02br 00Best wishes, Clive0-

— Clive

  • 02br 02br 00 It just seems to mean "to provoke, to taunt".
  • 02br 02br 00Best wishes, Clive0-
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6 Answers
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0Hi,02br
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00As a Canadian, I wouldn't say this is a standard and widely used phrase, because I don't often encounter it.02br
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00 It just seems to mean "to provoke, to taunt". If I stick my thumb in your eye, it will make you angry with me, and it will show that I am not afraid of you.02br
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00Best wishes, Clive0-
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0Thank you very much Clive! I have a similar opinion like you, but confirmation from native speaker is always better...05000 Personally, what I don't like on English are the phrases, which are not explained in the internet dictionaries. At least, I searched all my sources with fine-tooth comb and I didn't find nothing...:-(02br
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00Best Regards02br
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0Interesting...I'd never heard this one before.0-
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0 Interesting...I'd never heard this one before.02br
01b00Neither had I, but it certainly is descriptive enough to guess what it means. 02b00 0-
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Persons new to firearms, particularly rifles, have been known to grip the stock with their thumb raised, not down on the stock. Upon discharge, the recoil action drives their thumb into their eye.
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Like how referring to American tribes as Native Americans is sticking your thumb in the eye of nativists by reminding them they aren't actually native. It's inflicting an injury to dignity so trivial they can't respond without looking like the smaller person.

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