thumbs-down
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of thumbs-down
First recorded in 1885–90
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Belarusian was unimpressed, aiming a sarcastic thumbs down at the umpire and offering a few choice words to her team, but she was able to reset quickly.
From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026
“The content does not violate our advertising policies. However, users can mark any ad with a thumbs up or thumbs down to help manage their ads preferences.”
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 17, 2025
“It does get better,” and now she assesses risks from activities and foods with a quick thumbs up or thumbs down.
From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 27, 2025
The Stoics were not necessarily giving the thumbs down to any type of feeling, but they saw much of negative feeling as the byproduct of useless attachments.
From Salon • Jan. 30, 2024
The dockers banged their thumbs down on their stopwatches.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
