Thumb in the bum (time)

Posted by Keith Rennie on November 29, 2004

Anybody else come across this nice one? Refers to a sudden life or death crisis where you should avoid panic and take advantage of any short time available before action.

I think it's a WW II RAF fighter pilot/instructor expression--your plane is hit, but don't panic (avoid soiling your underpants by sticking your thumb up your bum) and meanwhile take a few seconds to work out your best course of emergency action.