thumb one's nose at
Meaning: To show contempt or mockery for someone or something.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “The band thumbed its nose at the critics and sold out every show.”
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: From the rude gesture of putting a thumb to one's nose and waving the fingers, known in Europe for centuries.
Equivalents in other languages
- Czech: Dělat dlouhý nos — literally: To make a long nose
More idioms — Body & Senses
- pull a long face — To look sad, sulky or disappointed.
- rushed off one's feet — Extremely busy.
- no pain, no gain — You must work hard or suffer to achieve something.
- you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours — If you help me, I will help you.
- thin-skinned — Easily offended or hurt by criticism.
- right-hand man — Someone's most trusted and useful helper.
More English idioms
- saw off the branch one is sitting on — To harm one's own position or interests.
- go around the houses — To take a needlessly long or roundabout way.
- do the heavy lifting — To do the hardest part of a job.
- a bad workman blames his tools — People who do poor work blame their equipment instead of themselves.
- ask for trouble — To behave in a way likely to cause problems for oneself.
- worth the price of admission — So entertaining that it would be worth paying to watch.
From our proverbs
- Sweep before your own door. — Address your own faults and shortcomings before criticizing or interfering in others' aff…
- Put no faith in tale-bearers. — Gossips distort truth through retelling, making their reports unreliable guides for judgm…
- Temperance is the best physic. — Moderation in food, drink, and habits prevents disease better than medicine can cure it.