thumbs up

English

Alternative forms

• thumbs-up

Etymology

With reference to the signal of approval or disapproval used by spectators at a Roman amphitheatre, but sense has been reversed.

Noun

thumbs up (plural thumbs up)

1. A gesture signifying approval or okay; a thumb pointing up out of a fist.

   He smiled and gave a big thumbs up.

2. (idiomatic) An approval or okay.

   We got the thumbs-up to go ahead with the project.

Antonyms

• thumbs-down