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 Department of Justice and the Treasury subjected the question of whether the change could be made without congressional action to their gimlet-eyed scrutiny, and turned thumbs-down.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026
If a product - say Viennese-style sausages from Kostelecké uzeniny or sliced bread from Penam - belongs to an Agrofert company, a thumbs-down symbol appears.
From BBC • Dec. 9, 2025
The media built him up, and as we saw in the Roman colosseum, the thumbs-up can quickly turn to thumbs-down.
From Slate • Sep. 4, 2024
One of the most significant tweaks to Memegen will be the removal of a virtual thumbs-down.
From New York Times • Apr. 8, 2024
I suggested calling Dad, but she gave that a quick thumbs-down, saying he was “too busy” for her.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
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.
