Fields Recordings From The Sea

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Steve Gray S
Steve Gray Apr 21, 2004 20:51:03
Replying to FourWinds

The version of "Rule of thumb" that I heard was that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a rod no thicker than his thumb.

F FourWinds
FourWinds Apr 21, 2004 21:00:02
Replying to Steve Gray

Actually that rings a bell somewhere. I stand corrected if I'm wrong. My idea is for the romantics amongst us ... Yours is for the realists :-)

B BlueGloves
BlueGloves Apr 22, 2004 07:48:27
Replying to Steve Gray

A shortened form of ruler is 'rule' "Use the rule". A male thumb is an inch wide (try it). Measuring a short distance thumb to thumb is the 'rule of thumb'. It means it's rough but better than nothing.