This is a slang expression that comes from "Romeo and Juliet," and in Shakespeare's day, biting one's thumb was a way to show disrespect to someone, or to show you were eager to pick a fight with them. It would be the equivalent today of giving someone the middle finger, or spitting at someone-- its intention was to be provocative.
The present progressive tense of "bite" is "biting."
"Le pouce" in French translates to "the thumb" in English.
Sticking your thumb to yourself in sign language can mean "me" or "myself." It is a way to refer to oneself in a conversation or express ownership or possession.
"Pollicus" is a Latin term that translates to "thumb" in English. It is commonly used in anatomical terms to refer to muscles, tendons, or structures associated with the thumb.
The present participle of "bite" is "biting".
Biting your thumb is generally considered a rude gesture or sign of disrespect in many cultures today. It can be seen as an offensive or provocative action towards someone.
Biting your thumb at someone back then is the equivalent to giving someone the middle finger today. It's just a rude gesture intended to make the Capulets angry. When they are asked "Are you biting our thumb at us, Sir?" and respond saying "I do bite my thumb sir." That would be the same as when people subtly give you the middle finger and say that isn'thow they meant it.
In act 1 scence 1 Sampson bites his thumb at abram biting your thumb was considered a sign of disrespect.
Biting your thumb at someone was considered a rude British insult. Also, it is a traditional Sicilian insult meaning 'the hell with you'. Kind of like an American giving somebody the finger. It's on Wikipedia.
Paint thumb nail with no-bite nail polish (used to keep one from biting nails).
because it is the equvalent to the middle finger
biting the thumb back in Verona at the time romeo and Juliet was set was an offense such as sticking up your middle finger now. just another socially unacceptable thing
In way back when Shakespeare plays were actually funny, biting your thumb was a hand gesture that is the equivalent of giving somebody the finger.
You're making her a little nervous. And she probably likes you. (Either that, or she doesn't know you're alive, her thumbnail is bugging her, and she's biting it off.)
The black horse in this dream represents someone or something that the dreamer perceives as a large, powerful threat that is beyond the dreamer's control. Biting the thumb off symbolizes the loss of one's ability to control (grasp) the situation.
press your thumb on his throat will choke him slightly but he will let go..
In medieval times this was the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger.