thumb one's nose

thumb one's nose
{v. phr.} 1. To hold one's open hand in front of one's face with one's thumb pointed at one's nose as a sign of scorn or dislike. * /After Bob ran into the house he thumbed his nose at Tom through the window./ 2. {informal} To look with disfavor or dislike; regard with scorn; refuse to obey. - Used with "at". * /Betty thumbed her nose at her mother's command to stay home./ * /Mary thumbed her nose at convention by wearing odd clothes./ Compare: LOOK DOWN ON.

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • thumb one's nose at — ► thumb one s nose at informal show disdain or contempt for. [ORIGIN: with reference to the gesture of putting one s thumb on one s nose and spreading the fingers.] Main Entry: ↑thumb …   English terms dictionary

  • thumb one's nose — phrasal 1. : to point at with extended fingers and the thumb at one s nose as a gesture of derision, scorn, or defiance 2. : to treat or regard with disdain thumb their noses at the collective wisdom of the ages C.I.Glicksberg * * * thumb one s… …   Useful english dictionary

  • thumb one's nose — idi thumb one s nose a) to raise the hand with fingers extended and touch the thumb to the nose as a gesture of scorn, defiance, etc b) to manifest defiance or contempt (usu. fol. by at): to thumb one s nose at convention[/ex] …   From formal English to slang

  • thumb one's nose — {v. phr.} 1. To hold one s open hand in front of one s face with one s thumb pointed at one s nose as a sign of scorn or dislike. * /After Bob ran into the house he thumbed his nose at Tom through the window./ 2. {informal} To look with disfavor… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • thumb\ one's\ nose — v. phr. 1. To hold one s open hand in front of one s face with one s thumb pointed at one s nose as a sign of scorn or dislike. After Bob ran into the house he thumbed his nose at Tom through the window. 2. informal To look with disfavor or… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • thumb one's nose — phrasal 1. to place the thumb at one s nose and extend the fingers as a gesture of scorn or defiance 2. to express disdain or defiance < thumb their nose at opulence Sales Management > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • thumb one's nose at — informal show disdain or contempt for. [with ref. to the gesture of putting one s thumb on one s nose and spreading the fingers.] → thumb …   English new terms dictionary

  • thumb one's nose — verb a) To place a thumb upon the tip of the nose, typically with the fingers spread and while simultaneously wiggling ones fingers, in a gesture of disrespect. My brother thumbed his nose in reply to my snide remarks. b) To act disrespectfully,… …   Wiktionary

  • thumb one's nose — look with disfavor or dislike The star player thumbed his nose at the fans when they began to boo him …   Idioms and examples

  • thumb one's nose at — informal show disdain or contempt for …   Useful english dictionary

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