Last Updated：2025/12/05

(historical) To express defiance by putting one's thumbnail into one's mouth and knocking it against the teeth.

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bite one's thumb

Source Word

bite one's thumb

Verb

historical

(historical) To express defiance by putting one's thumbnail into one's mouth and knocking it against the teeth.

Japanese Meaning

（歴史的な用例）反抗の意を示すために、親指の爪を口に含み、歯にぶつける行為。

At the height of the quarrel, he chose to bite one's thumb at the messenger, reigniting a centuries-old feud.

口論の最中、彼は伝令に向かって親指の爪を口に入れて歯に打ち付けるという挑発的な仕草をして反抗を示し、何世紀も続く確執を再燃させた。

Sense（1）

(historical) To express defiance by putting one's thumbnail into one's mouth and knocking it against the teeth.

bites one's thumb

（ present singular third-person ）

biting one's thumb

（ participle present ）

bit one's thumb

（ past ）

bitten one's thumb

（ participle past ）