1 B1 idiomatic informal
To express disapproval or rejection of something, often by a gesture or informal decision.
"The committee thumbed down the new proposal without even reading the full report."
separable
thumb down
B1 informal separable transitive
To disapprove of or reject something, typically by gesture or informal vote.
In plain English
To say 'no' or show you don't like something, like pressing thumbs down.
What does "thumb down" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To press or point the thumb in a downward direction.
Actually means
To say 'no' or show you don't like something, like pressing thumbs down.
Usage tip
Derived from the gesture of pointing the thumb downward to signal disapproval. Commonly used in both digital contexts (disliking a video) and general speech. Less common as a full phrasal verb compared to the noun/adjective 'thumbs-down'. More frequently 'give a thumbs-down' than 'thumb down'.
Words that pair with "thumb down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
proposal plan idea video performance decision
How to conjugate "thumb down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
thumb down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
thumbs down
he/she/it
Past simple
thumbed down
yesterday
Past participle
thumbed down
have + pp
-ing form
thumbing down
continuous
Hear "thumb down" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "thumb down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "thumb down"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.