Under someone's thumb means completely controlled by them: you can't do anything without their permission. The chair kept the entire committee under his thumb for years. It's disapproving: this isn't just a boss, it's pressure.
When would you say under someone's thumb?
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be under someone's thumb / have or keep someone under your thumb
- The chair kept the entire committee under his thumb for years.
- She refused to remain under the sponsor's thumb and opened an independent studio.
- The assistant was so firmly under his manager's thumb that he never questioned a deadline.
What changed
First versionEveryone knows he is under his wife's wing: he can't decide anything without her.
RevisionEveryone knows he is under his wife's thumb: he can't decide anything without her.
Under someone's wing also puts one person under another, so the two idioms get mixed up: under his wife's wing. But a wing protects and looks after you, while a thumb holds you down. He can't decide anything without her, so it's under his wife's thumb.
Under the heel of is literary and describes whole countries or peoples being oppressed, not a husband. A rule of thumb is a rough practical rule, with no control involved. Henpecked describes a husband whose wife controls him.
Your turn
Choose the idiom about control: He had the board under his ___, and nobody dared to vote against him.
Show the answer
thumb — Nobody dares to vote against him, so this is control: under his thumb. Under his wing would mean he protects and guides the board.
Describe an imaginary boss without whom the team can't decide anything, using under someone's thumb.
The design team was under the founder's thumb and could not change even a button colour without approval.
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