[ti:'All Thumbs']
[al:Words and Their Stories]
[ar:VOA]
[dt:2023-07-02]
[by:www.voase.cn]
[00:07.81]And now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.
[00:19.65]On this show we explore words and expressions a little more deeply.
[00:25.46]We give you synonyms - words that mean close to the same thing. And we use the expressions in a conversation.
[00:36.42]Today we talk about our hands - more specifically our thumbs.
[00:44.33]Most of us have one thumb and four fingers on each hand. 
[00:50.96]Our thumbs let us perform certain tasks. 
[00:55.91]But what if all our fingers were replaced with thumbs? 
[01:01.81]Those tasks we normally perform with ease would become much more difficult.
[01:10.58]In fact, we would lose the ability to do many things with our hands.
[01:16.49]Our movements would become careless and clumsy. 
[01:21.40]We would drop things all the time.
[01:25.38]And that is what the saying to be all thumbs means. 
[01:31.19]If I am all thumbs, I lack grace with my hands. 
[01:37.76]I am klutzy. 
[01:39.65]So, people might call me a klutz.
[01:43.96]They might also call me butterfingers.
[01:47.89]Imagine your fingers are coated in butter.
[01:52.05]They would be very slippery. And it would hard to pick things up.
[01:58.58]Now, let's hear the expression "to be all thumbs" in a conversation between two friends.
[02:07.41]A: Hey, I'm planning a surprise party for Nicholas. 
[02:12.65]I'm bringing the food and ice.
[02:15.35]And Cassidy is bringing the drinks - about 50 bottles of wine and lemonade. Can you bring the cake?
[02:24.74]B: I have a better idea. 
[02:26.26]I'll pick up the drinks.
[02:28.40]Why don't you ask Cassidy to bring the cake?
[02:31.82]A: Why?
[02:32.76]B: Cassidy is all thumbs.
[02:34.69]She'll end up dropping everything and then we won't have drinks at the party.
[02:39.35]A: Good call. 
[02:40.90]She is pretty clumsy. 
[02:43.46]Actually, at the last party she dropped the cake.
[02:48.06]On second thought ... I'll have her bring the ice. 
If she drops the bags of ice, it'll only help break it up.
B: Very smart.
And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo.