All Thumbs Trivia Quiz

Answer: A person who is awkward and clumsy with their hands

In the US and other western cultures, this idiom usually refers to someone who is having difficulty holding on to or picking up an item. It can also refer to someone who may not be talented in a particular area. The point of the saying is obvious. A hand with all thumbs and no other longer phalanges would make working with other objects most difficult.

For example someone who is having trouble picking up a knife or spoon is said to be "all thumbs".

Answer: Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert

Gene Siskel, a Chicago native, was a film critic for the Chicago Tribune. Roger Ebert wrote reviews for the Chicago Sun-Times. In 1975, the two teamed up on a local PBS station to do a movie review show. In 1982 the popular duo left PBS to begin a syndicated show.

Their thumbs up/thumbs down system of showing their approval or disapproval of a movie has become a part of American pop culture. Their show was very popular and it was nominated for an Emmy on seven different occasions. Unfortunately Siskel died in 1999 and Ebert left the show in 2008 due to health reasons.

Answer: 3

There are 27 bones in the human hand including the metacarpals. The thumb is made up of the distal phalanx, proximal phalanx and the first metacarpal. The proximal phalanx is the bone located nearest to where the thumb is attached to the body (between the distal phalanx and first metacarpal).

The distal phalanx is located on the end of the thumb furthest from where it is attached to the body. The first metacarpal bone is shorter and stouter than the metacarpals on the other fingers and attaches the thumb to the body.

Answer: Jump or held ball

A jump ball, where the referee tosses the ball in the air and two players from the opposite teams jump and try to tip the ball to one of their teammates, is used to start a basketball game. A jump ball is also used when the possession of the basketball is in question. Two players from different teams may be holding on to the ball at the same time or knocking it out of bounds while both players are touching the ball. Outside of the NBA, most basketball organizations do not toss the ball in the air to settle a dispute but have alternating possessions.

The team that did not win the opening tip gets the next possession to start a new period, or to settle a dispute regarding possession within the same period. However, whenever the jump ball or alternating possession is needed the referee signals the held/jump ball by sticking both of his thumbs up in the air.

Answer: Green

In the US someone who is successful at growing plants is said to have a "green thumb". In Australia and Great Britain, the idiom is sometimes referred to as having "green fingers". Although not as widely used as the "green thumb" idiom, someone who is not good at growing plants is said to have a "brown thumb".

Answer: Thumbscrew

The torturing device known as the thumbscrew was used in Europe during the medieval period. The device was nothing more than a vice consisting of two pieces of flat metal held together by two screws placed on the ends. They could be used to handcuff a person or if the screws were tightened to apply more pressure so that the thumbs, fingers or toes would be crushed. "Thumbscrew" is also used to describe a screw whose head is designed so that it can be tightened with the thumb and finger.

Answer: Rule of Thumb

According to at least one legend the phrase "rule of thumb" came about after a 16th century English judge made a ruling that allowed a man to beat his wife as long as the stick used was no thicker than his thumb. Other historians speculate that the phrase came about by the thumb being used throughout history to estimate distant and size.

A "rule of thumb" is not based on science or exact calculations, but on information based on general assumptions.

Answer: Thumb war/wrestling

To throw down the gauntlet in a thumb war, you and your competitor tightly grasp their hands and chant "one, two three, four, I declare a thumb war!" (Or some variation of that cheer). As soon as the chant is finished, the contestants try to pin their adversary's thumb for a predetermined amount of time, usually a three to five second count.

Answer: Iraq

In many Middle Eastern nations as well as in some parts of South America, the thumbs up sign is seen as obscene or crude. The origin of the thumbs up sign carrying a positive connotation in the western world is not certain. Some historians speculate that it came from a Medieval England custom where business deals were sealed with the licking, displaying and pressing together of the parties' thumbs.

The gesture became popular during World War II, when Allied pilots would use the signal to communicate with his ground crew that everything was OK before he took off.

The gesture's meaning was expanded and soon became a signal used by the Allied soldiers to express support or encouragement.

Answer: Sore thumb

If you have ever hurt your thumb or have had surgery on it, then you know how appropriate the idiom "sticks out like a sore thumb" is. A bandaged thumb is obvious to all those who come in contact with the person who has a seriously injured thumb. Also one with a hurt thumb treats it gingerly making the fact that the thumb is sore obvious.

Answer: Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking is legal in most countries and even encouraged in some - like Cuba. The signal a hitchhiker uses to signify they desire a ride differs from country to country. In the US and UK the signal is the holding out or up of one's thumb. In other countries, gestures for hitchhiking may include waving with a downward flat hand, or showing the back of your hand with the index finger pointing up.

A wise hitchhiker will learn the local customs. There are many websites that train and offer suggestions for safe hitchhiking.

Answer: He is bored

Thumb twiddling is considered a time wasting activity involving an individual interlocking his or her fingers and than rotating his or her thumbs around each other. This activity is usually participated in when a person is experiencing boredom. The phrase is also used in a figurative sense by someone who is describing their monotonous circumstance.

Answer: It is able to touch all the other finger pads

The thumb is the only digit on the human hand that can be moved around to touch the other fingers. Most primates have opposable thumbs or toes as well. Opposable thumbs make it possible for humans to more easily pick up or grip small objects.

Answer: Thumbelina

Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author who wrote over 150 children's stories. The tale of Thumbelina is a story about a girl who is no longer than a person's thumb. She lives inside a flower but is kidnapped in order to become the wife of a toad.

She escapes and lives with a mouse for a while before a mole attempts to marry her. Once again she is forced to flee, this time escaping on the back of a bird. She eventually meets a fairy prince who is her size, and marries him, living happily ever after.

In 1994 Warner Brothers released an animated movie based on the story using the voices of many stars including, Carol Channing, Gilbert Gottfried, and Jodi Benson.

Answer: Michigan

Michigan is made up of two peninsulas. The Lower Peninsula is shaped like a mitten and the northeast corner of the mitten shaped peninsula resembles the thumb of the mitten. Therefore the area is referred to as the Thumb Region. According to the Thumb Area Tourism Council, the region is made up of Huron, Tuscola and Sanilac counties and is bordered by Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay.

It is a popular tourist destination known for its scenic countryside and many lighthouses.

Answer: To show contempt or derision

In many cultures, the placing of your thumb, with your fingers pointing up, on the side or tip of your nose while wiggling your fingers is considered a gesture of contempt. The term can also be used figuratively to mean that a person is not taking an idea or person seriously, by verbally rejecting the idea by saying something like "he thumbed his nose at their suggestion." While no-one is sure of the origin of the gesture, some historians claimed to have traced its use back to Vienna in the 1600s.

Answer: Romeo and Juliet

The two families (the Montagues and the Capulets) in Romeo and Juliet have been enemies for years. The play begins with the servants of the two families beginning to fight, when one of the servants from the house of Capulet (Sampson) tries to incite a servant from the Montague household (Abraham) by biting his thumb as they passed by. To "bite your thumb" at someone was considered a derogatory and maybe even an obscene gesture in Shakespeare's day.

It was used by those who wished to start a quarrel or even a physical confrontation.

It is believed that the gesture was performed when one would place his thumb at the bottom of and/or behind the top row of his teeth and flick the thumb out toward the recipient of the gesture. The phrase is still used today when describing a group or individual that seeks to start an altercation with another.

Answer: Tom Thumb

Stories about Tom Thumb began appearing in English writings during the 16th century. In the story, Tom Thumb was born to a poor childless couple. The child was given his small size by Merlin the Magician. The story goes on to share the adventures of the boy and his conflict with an envious queen.

In 1730, English playwright and satirist Henry Fielding used Tom Thumb as a central figure of a play that he later rewrote and titled "The Tragedy of Tragedies". The Brothers Grimm in their collection of fairy tales have a similar story.

Their character's name is Thumbling.

Answer: Linus Van Pelt

Linus, who first appeared in the "Peanuts" comic strip in 1952, is frequently shown sucking his thumb while clutching his security blanket. Although he had the habit of thumb sucking and had an object attachment with his blanket, he was looked to for advice by Charlie Brown and others. Thumb sucking is normal for babies and young children.

However many experts believe that after age five it can become problematic and lead to dental troubles, social issues and cause infections.

Answer: Archery

The thumb ring can be made using leather, plastic, metal, bone and/or many other hard substances. It is mostly used by archers who use a technique called the Mongolian Draw. This technique, which is more popular among Asian archers, needs a thumb ring to protect the thumb, because the archer hooks his thumb around the bowstring and under the arrow.

The arrow is then steadied by the use of the middle and second fingers encircling the thumb. The thumb ring is needed because intense pressure is put on the thumb by the bowstring during the draw and release of the arrow.