Originally posted by coquette"The original meanings of "thumbs up" and "thumbs down":
Which will prevail?
Juvenal refers to the Roman custom of spectators’ voting on the fate of wounded gladiators with their thumbs. You may think a gladiator would appreciate the crowd’s “thumbs up” (verso pollice), but exactly the opposite is true. Where we give thumbs up as a sign of approval, it meant death to its Roman recipient; much to the crowd’s delight.
These men once were horn-blowers and attendants
At every municipal arena, known as trumpeters in every village.
Now they present their own spectacles, and, to win applause,
Kill whomever the mob gives the “thumbs up”.
Decimus Junius Juvenalis; a.k.a. Juvenal
(c. 55-140 A.D.), "Third Satire"
Thumbs down, signified “swords down,” which meant the loser was worth more to them alive than dead, and he was spared apparently so he could make up for his disgrace the next time he appeared in the arena. Keep this in mind the next time you give someone the “thumbs up” sign..."
—Based on information from It's Greek To Me! by Michael Macrone
and Fabulous Fallacies by Tad Tuleja
http://wordinfo.info/unit/3735/ip:1/il:K
Originally posted by Grampy BobbyHandy household hints GB?
[b]"The original meanings of "thumbs up" and "thumbs down":
Juvenal refers to the Roman custom of spectators’ voting on the fate of wounded gladiators with their thumbs. You may think a gladiator would appreciate the crowd’s “thumbs up” (verso pollice), but exactly the opposite is true. [i]Where we give thumbs up as a sign of approval, it meant d ...[text shortened]... ael Macrone
and Fabulous Fallacies by Tad Tuleja
http://wordinfo.info/unit/3735/ip:1/il:K[/b]
