PhrasesHub

All fingers and thumbs

    Definitions

      • Clumsiness or awkwardness
        To describe someone who is having trouble completing a task or activity due to lack of coordination or dexterity

      • Nervousness or agitation
        To express someone's state of anxiety or agitation, often due to anticipation or uncertainty

      • Inability to make a decision
        To indicate someone's indecisiveness or confusion, often in a humorous or lighthearted manner

    Examples of All fingers and thumbs

    • The clumsy waiter spilled the entire pitcher of water all fingers and thumbs, causing a huge mess on the table.

      This idiom is used to describe someone who is extremely clumsy and uncoordinated. It means that the person seems to have trouble doing even the simplest tasks, like picking up objects or moving their fingers and thumbs in a coordinated way. In this example, the waiter's clumsiness is so severe that he manages to spill an entire pitcher of water, making a big mess in the process.ANALYSIS: This idiom is used in a sentence to convey the severity of the person's clumsiness. It adds humor and exaggeration to the situation, making it more interesting and memorable.2. Barking up the wrong tree

    • The detective spent hours questioning the wrong suspect, barking up the wrong tree all the while.

      This idiom is used to describe someone who is pursuing the wrong course of action or investigating the wrong person. It means that they are wasting their time and resources on a fruitless pursuit. In this example, the detective is spending a lot of time questioning the wrong suspect, which is a waste of his time and resources.ANALYSIS: This idiom is used in a sentence to convey the futility of the person's actions. It adds humor and exaggeration to the situation, making it more interesting and memorable.3. Beat around the bush

    • The salesman tried to avoid answering the customer's question, beating around the bush for several minutes before finally admitting the truth.

      This idiom is used to describe someone who avoids answering a direct question by using circuitous or evasive language. It means that they are beating around the bush, or avoiding the issue, instead of giving a straight answer. In this example, the salesman is avoiding answering the customer's question by using evasive language, which is frustrating for the customer.ANALYSIS: This idiom is used in a sentence to convey the speaker's frustration with someone's evasive language. It adds humor and exaggeration to the situation, making it more interesting and memorable.4. Bite the bullet

    • The surgeon instructed the patient to bite the bullet, as she prepared to administer a painful injection.

      This idiom is used to describe someone who is preparing themselves for a difficult or painful experience. It means that they are gritting their teeth and bearing the pain, like biting a bullet. In this example, the surgeon is instructing the patient to prepare themselves for a painful injection by biting the bullet.ANALYSIS: This idiom is used in a sentence to convey the speaker's sympathy for someone's difficult experience. It adds humor and exaggeration to the situation, making it more interesting and memorable.5. Break a leg

    • The actress heard the audience whispering "break a leg" as she took the stage, but she brushed it off and delivered a flawless performance.

      This idiom is used to wish someone good luck, but it has an unusual origin. It comes from the superstition that wishing someone "good luck" might actually bring them bad luck, so instead people say "break a leg," which is supposed to be a harmless way to wish someone good luck. In this example, the actress hears the audience whispering "break a leg," but she brushes it off and delivers a flawless performance.ANALYSIS: This idiom is used in a sentence to convey the speaker's good wishes for someone's success. It adds humor and exaggeration to the situation, making it more interesting and memorable.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "all fingers and thumbs" is used to describe someone who is clumsy, nervous or indecisive. It is often used in a humorous or lighthearted way to express someone's struggles or shortcomings in a particular situation.

    In the first meaning, "all fingers and thumbs" is used to describe someone's lack of coordination or dexterity. This could be in a physical sense, such as struggling to tie shoelaces or hold onto objects, or in a figurative sense, such as being inept at a task or activity. It can also be used to describe someone who is physically awkward or uncoordinated.

    The second meaning refers to someone's state of nervousness or agitation. This could be due to a specific event or situation, or just a general feeling of anxiety. The idiom suggests that the person is so nervous that they are unable to control their movements, similar to someone who is all fingers and thumbs.

    The third and final meaning of the idiom conveys someone's indecisiveness or confusion. This could be in relation to making a decision or simply being unable to focus on a task. The phrase implies that the person's hands are so busy fumbling around that they are unable to think clearly or make a choice.

    Origin of "All fingers and thumbs"

    The origin of the idiom "all fingers and thumbs" is uncertain, but it is believed to have originated in England in the 1800s. The phrase may have been inspired by the physical appearance of someone who is clumsy and appears to have too many fingers or thumbs, causing them to fumble and struggle with tasks.

    Another theory suggests that the idiom may have stemmed from the English game of "twelve pins," which involved knocking down a set of pins using a ball. If a player was unable to knock down all of the pins, they would be left with "all fingers and thumbs," indicating their failure.

    Regardless of its precise origin, "all fingers and thumbs" has become a widely used idiom in the English language. It is often used in informal and colloquial settings, and its versatility allows it to convey a range of meanings in different contexts.