IdiomBody & Senses
English
Englishgreen thumb
Meaning: Natural ability to grow plants.
Example: “My mother has a green thumb; even her cactus flowers.”
Equivalents in other languages
French: Avoir la main verte Literally: To have a green hand
Origin: American English from the 1930s and 1940s; the British version "green fingers" is recorded a little earlier. The green refers to plants, as if a gardener's hands had taken on their color. A story that it comes from green algae staining the hands of people handling clay pots is often told but not proven.
More English idioms
- heart to heart Serious and intimate.
- hit the nail on the head To come to the right conclusion.
- not hold one's breath To not wait for something to happen because it probably won't happen soon, if at all.
- hold one's tongue To refrain from speaking.
- huff and puff To breathe heavily; or to bluster and make empty threats.
- in over one's head Involved in something beyond one's ability to handle.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- 目に入れても痛くない (Me ni irete mo itakunai) Said of someone you adore completely, often a child or grandchild.
- Bête comme ses pieds Really not very bright.
- Avoir un poil dans la main To be incurably lazy.
Keep exploring