rule of thumb
A general guideline, rather than a strict ruleA general guideline, rather than a strict rule; an approximate measure or means of reckoning based on experience or common knowledge.
» That's a pretty good rule of thumb.
CK · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
2 senses(idiomatic)A general guideline, rather than a strict rule; an approximate measure or means of reckoning based on experience or common knowledge.
The usual rule of thumb says that to calculate when an investment will double, divide 70 by the interest rate.
Faustregel, Daumenregel
практи́ческое пра́вилоpraktíčeskoje právilo, эмпири́ческий приёмempiríčeskij prijóm, пра́вило большо́го па́льцаprávilo bolʹšóvo pálʹca
(attributive)Approximated, guesstimated.
I made a quick, rule-of-thumb estimate of the manhours required for the job.
- a rule or principle that provides guidance to appropriate behavior
Examples
4 sentencesThat's a pretty good rule of thumb.
As a rule of thumb, you should plan on one pound of beef for every two guests.
ruГрубо говоря, ты должен исходить из расчёта фунт говядины на двух гостей. — Hellerick
deAls Daumenregel sollten Sie ein Pfund Rindfleisch für jeweils zwei Gäste rechnen. — samueldora
I will admit that I didn’t always stick to this rule of thumb.
She had no rule of thumb about it, but she got it right every time.
ruУ неё не было на этот счёт чёткого правила, но каждый раз у неё получалось правильно. — Hellerick
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
Attested since 1658. Of uncertain origin, but probably based on the use of the thumb as reAttested since 1658. Of uncertain origin, but probably based on the use of the thumb as reference for various measurements. For instance, one theory notes that the inch originated as the distance between the base of the thumbnail and the first joint, another notes the practice of approximating the general direction of the wind by wetting the thumb then raising it in the air. A third theory notes that English royal banquet plate setters used the distance of their thumbs to equally space each plate from the table edge. The erroneous claim that the term referred to the maximum thickness of a stick with which it was permissible for a man to beat his wife has appeared in The Washington Post and Time; it may originate from Del Martin's 1976 book Battered Wives.
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Forms
plural: rules of thumbSynonyms
2 synonymsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Plural nouns — Because its plural is irregular