under someone's thumb
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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]
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THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?
Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.
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Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?
Words nearby under someone's thumb
underskirt, undersleeve, underslung, undersoil, under someone's spell, under someone's thumb, under someone's wing, undersparred, underspend, underspin, understaffed
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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