Talk:two thumbs up
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I'm not sure whether this is idiomatic. Two reasons why it might be:
- This could be four thumbs pointed up rather than [[two]] [[thumbs]] [[up]], not actually two (or is it [[two]] [[thumbs up]]?). Ie, confusion.
- This may have taken on some idiomatic meaning from the very popular movie-review TV program in the US. DCDuring TALK 20:48, 15 August 2009 (UTC)
- Current definition seems totally unusable (why not three, or four, or five?) but if someone can come up with something usable it could stay. So my vote is wait at least a week before deleting this. Mglovesfun (talk) 21:16, 15 August 2009 (UTC)
- We should wait a week before closing any RFD except those that are clear
{{delete}}candidiates. I mean, what's a week?—msh210℠ 17:03, 20 August 2009 (UTC)
- We should wait a week before closing any RFD except those that are clear
- Current definition seems totally unusable (why not three, or four, or five?) but if someone can come up with something usable it could stay. So my vote is wait at least a week before deleting this. Mglovesfun (talk) 21:16, 15 August 2009 (UTC)
I don't think the definition ("a vote of approval from each of two observers") is correct. I think the expression just means "strong approval", whether from one person, two, or more. Cf. google:"he gave it two thumbs up" (3.5 million Web hits, according to the first-page estimate), "they gave it two thumbs up" (3.1 million).—msh210℠ 17:03, 20 August 2009 (UTC)
Exactly, keep and clean up. Mglovesfun (talk) 11:44, 21 August 2009 (UTC)
- Keep and refine idiomatic definition as strong approval. Also consider its the superlative of thumbs up.Goldenrowley
- Additional thought "a vote of approval from each of two observers" is correct in one context: on TV show (USA) two thumbs up means both movie critics have each given approval to a movie. Goldenrowley 18:48, 22 August 2009 (UTC)
- But that seems sum of parts, given we already have thumbs up. Mglovesfun (talk) 21:13, 22 August 2009 (UTC)
- Kept Mglovesfun
- But that seems sum of parts, given we already have thumbs up. Mglovesfun (talk) 21:13, 22 August 2009 (UTC)
This is weird to me, and the entry looks as if it were written by someone who has never actually heard the phrase used conversationally. Typical usage of the phrase is as follows:
- You should see it. I definitely gave it two thumbs up.
- What the Critics Said: 'Two Thumbs Up!' - A. Reviewer, NY Daily News
The physical gesture of putting up two thumbs is as odd as waving with both hands, or giving two simultaneous handshakes. Certainly the phrase doesn't refer to the gesture. Jsharpminor (talk) 05:15, 21 December 2014 (UTC)
- Sure, nobody means that nowadays- that's why it's labeled as dated. Still, I don't see the gesture of a thumb up on each hand as far-fetched- it's well documented in use in American popular culture- mostly in the past. Chuck Entz (talk) 06:31, 21 December 2014 (UTC)