String you up by your thumbs

Posted by Smokey Stover on October 11, 2005

In Reply to: String you up by your thumbs posted by Jennifer on October 11, 2005

: What is the origin of the phrase, "string you up by your thumbs"? How is it typically used today?

This used to be a well-known torture technique, in which a cord was attached to each of your thumbs, then to something overhead, so that you could be suspended off the ground, held only by your thumbs. The phrase, as far as I know, is not used today except humorously as a mock threat, although I'm not absolutely sure that the technique is not in use by U.S. Army Military Intelligence. SS