Att ha tummen mitt i handen

Meaning: To be hopelessly clumsy; all thumbs.

Language: Swedish

Literally: To have the thumb in the middle of the hand

Category: Body & Senses

Origin: A thumb stuck in the centre of the palm would make the hand useless, picturing total clumsiness.

More idioms — Body & Senses

• Wiercić komuś dziurę w brzuchu — To nag someone relentlessly.
• Vetää lonkalta — To improvise; to wing it.
• Mít všech pět pohromadě — To be of sound mind.
• يد واحدة لا تصفق — Nothing is achieved without cooperation.
• नाक में दम करना — To harass or pester relentlessly.
• מצא חן בעיניי — It pleased me; I liked it.

More Swedish idioms

• Nu är det kokta fläsket stekt — Now we're really in trouble.
• Att kasta yxan i sjön — To give up completely.
• Att ha en räv bakom örat — To be cunning and sly.
• Att smita från notan — To dodge paying or shirk responsibility.
• Att sätta sig på tvären — To be obstinate and refuse to cooperate.
• ge järnet — Exert maximum effort; give one's all.

← Back to Idioms

Loading the full interactive collection…