under one's thumb
Preserved but no longer current.
Under the influence or power of the person named. Thumbikins, Thumbscrew. An instrument of torture used largely by the Inquisition, whereby the thumbs are compressed between two bars of iron, by means of a screw.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “under one's thumb” mean?
Under the influence or power of the person named. Thumbikins, Thumbscrew. An instrument of torture used largely by the Inquisition, whereby the thumbs are compressed between two bars of iron, by means of a screw.
Is “under one's thumb” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.