thumb one's nose

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Contents

[edit] English

[edit] Verb

thumb one's nose

  1. (idiomatic) To place a thumb upon the tip of the nose, usually while simultaneous wiggling one's fingers, in a gesture of disrespect.
    My brother thumbed his nose in reply to my snide remarks.
  2. (figuratively) To act disrespectfully, especially by flouting the object of disrespect.
    Richard Feynman delighted in thumbing his nose at bureaucracy.

[edit] Translations

to place a thumb upon the tip of the nose in a gesture of disrespect
to act disrespectfully, especially by flouting the object of disrespect

[edit] Related terms

thumb

[edit] Synonyms

cock a snook

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