Re: Thumbing
your nose
Posted by James
Briggs on May 08, 2002 In Reply to: Thumbing
your nose posted by Roseann on May 08, 2002
: I've used the
expression "thumbing your nose at someone" to mean a kind of contempt. When I
looked in Phrase Finder for confirmation it didn't seem to be included.
: Any
info anyone?
: Thanks, Rosieann
Certainly in the part of London I grew up
in in the 1930s and 40s, 'thumbing your nose' was very popular with kids as a
form of defiance against almost anyone else - other kids, grown ups (you hoped
you weren't indentified while you were running away, which is what you always
did if adults were involved!). I don't know its origin but I guess pretty old,
possibly centuries. It was almost never used by adults and was regarded as childlike.
- Re:
Thumbing your nose TheFallen 05/08/02 (3)
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