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It used to be that you could only beat your wife with a stick no thicker than your thumb.

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15y ago
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Q: Where did the saying rule of thumb come from?
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What is the rule of the thumb and where does it come from?

The Texas Rule of Thumb is: The further you travel Northwest, the higher the elevation and lower the precipitation, the further you travel Southeast, the lower the elevation, and higher the precipitation.


What does rule of thumb means?

"Rule of Thumb" means a rule or principle that provides guidance to appropriate behavior.


What is thumb rule?

The rule of thumb is not intended to be accurate or reliable for every given situation. When a person is doing something by the rule of thumb, they are taking an educated guess.


The phrase rule of thumb is best understood to mean?

what does the phrase rule of thumb mean


What is the plural form of rule of thumb?

Rules of thumb


What is rule of thump?

A misspelled "Rule of Thumb"


What is the phrase the ---- of thumb?

Perhaps you're thinking of the phrase, "rule of thumb".


Use rule of thumb in a sentence?

'Rule of Thumb' was a very wise English rule that stated a man was not allowed to beat his wife with a stick thicker than his thumb. Since that time, 'thumb rule' has come to describe various rough general guages for various activities and actions; waiting half-an-hour after eating before swimming, even though ther is no medical reason to do so, has become a 'thumb rule' for mothers. A case could be made for the 'Third Date Rule' being a rule of thumb. In Finance, the 'Rule of 72', i.e. that a given interest rate will double when the rate and the years multiplied equal 72; 6% interest for 12 years will double your money, 2% times 36 years, etc., would be a rule of thumb.


What is rule of thumb?

A useful principle but not intended to be reliable in every situation. Meaning the situation applies to everything because long ago the rule of thumb meant 1 inch equals your top of your thumb, so thats the rule of thumb. Over the years it has taken a more figurative meaning.


What is the rule of thumb on car braking distance?

The general rule of thumb is that you should be able to see the tires of the car in front of you touching the pavement.


What does a thumb measures?

there was a time when 1 inch was the 'rule of thumb' probably 25mm now


What is the thumb rule?

In the early centuries it was acceptable for a man to hit his wife if she did something wrong. In order to rule the beating as non abusive, the husband had to use a stick that was no bigger than his thumb. That then gave way to the term, "rule of thumb."