Slang definitions & phrases for under someone's thumb
under someone's thumb
adjective phrase
Entirely in someone's control: Our boss likes to keep us under his thumb(1754+)
Idioms and Phrases with under someone's thumb
under someone's thumb
Controlled or dominated by someone, as in He's been under his mother's thumb for years. The allusion in this metaphoric idiom is unclear, that is, why a thumb rather than a fist or some other anatomic part should symbolize control. [ Mid-1700s ]