Click here to play!
Click here to play!

sticking the thumb in someones eye..??

Click here to play
   Share on Facebook  
JCDenton  #500475  Mon, 14 Apr 08 09:06 AM
Hi my EF friends,

I just finished translation of the new CSI Las Vegas episode, for my parents and my friends. It was quite easy, except of one little thing..Guys from america, can you explain me your phrase "sticking the thumb in someones eye" ?? Im sure that it have special meaning...According to the examples, which I found on the internet, I'd bet that it means "make a joke on someones account" ..."or not to tell the truth to someone"...Examples from inet:

- He fired the first salvo in 2003 and has been sticking his thumb in Islamist eyes ever since

- Mr. McCain, who has delighted in sticking his thumb in the eye of mainstream Republicans  ...

- George Bush is sticking his thumb in the eye of his base," says Mark Krikorian
 
Or mentioned situation from CSI episode:

(CSIs found the dead body of a girl in the box. The body in the box was arranged like a body on the funeral...)..CSIs were thinking why...One of them said:


- Maybe the killer's just sticking his thumb in God's eye. Or practicing to be a mortician.

 

Many thanks in advance for your clarification...

 

your Regular member ..:-)

JCD 

  
Top 150 Contributor
Joined on Tue, Jul 3 2007
Europe
Full Member (442)
Your Ad Here
Clive  #500508  Mon, 14 Apr 08 12:45 PM

Hi,

As a Canadian, I wouldn't say this is a standard and widely used phrase, because I don't often encounter it.

 It just seems to mean "to provoke, to taunt". If I stick my thumb in your eye, it will make you angry with me, and it will show that I am not afraid of you.

Best wishes, Clive

 

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004
Canada
Veteran Member (20,321)
ModeratorTeachers
El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo
JCDenton  #500555  Mon, 14 Apr 08 02:10 PM

Thank you very much Clive! I have a similar opinion like you, but confirmation from native speaker is always better...Wink Personally, what I don't like on English are the phrases, which are not explained in the internet dictionaries. At least, I searched all my sources with fine-tooth comb and I didn't find nothing...:-(

Best Regards

JCD

 

 

  
nona the brit  #500804  Mon, 14 Apr 08 11:43 PM

Interesting...I'd never heard this one before.

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004
England
Veteran Member (11,296)
ModeratorProficient Speaker
The name says it all.
Philip  #500823  Tue, 15 Apr 08 12:51 AM
Interesting...I'd never heard this one before.
    Neither had I, but it certainly is descriptive enough to guess what it means. 
  
Top 25 Contributor
Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005
USA Pacific Northwest (Seattle)
Veteran Member (5,886)
ModeratorProficient Speaker
At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen
AddThis Feed Button RSS Feed: ESL Vocabulary and Idioms
© 2008 MediaCET Ltd.
Terms and Conditions