all fingers and thumbs
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Be clumsy or awkward in your actions.
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Sources & notes
Listed in Wiktionary’s “English idioms” category (retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review. Figurative class: Euphemism (PIE-English corpus, CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31).
Common questions
What does “all fingers and thumbs” mean?
Be clumsy or awkward in your actions.
Is “all fingers and thumbs” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.