Idiom meaning, usage examples, facts

1. I presented my idea to the boss but he didn’t like it at all. He turned it thumbs down.
2. They really liked the advertising campaign and gave it their whole-hearted approval. They gave it the thumbs up.

Synonym: (thumbs down) nix something. The expression originates from the Roman custom of turning a thumb downward to mean “no” or that something was unacceptable and upward to mean “yes” or that something was acceptable. People still use the thumbs-up or -down gesture, particularly when speaking or hearing is difficult. 94