Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
under someone's thumb
idiom
ˈʌndər ˈsʌmwʌnz θʌm
Definition
Under someone’s thumb means being in a position of complete control or influence by another person, often implying a lack of autonomy or freedom.
Examples
- After working for him for years, I felt like I was completely under his thumb.
- She didn’t want to be under her boss’s thumb any longer and decided to start her own business.
- They tried to manipulate him into being under their thumb, but he refused to be controlled.
Meaning
To be under someone’s thumb indicates subservience or dependence on someone else’s decisions or will.
Synonyms
- under control
- dominated
- subjugated
- manipulated
