under pressure

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dW5kZXIgcHJlc3N1cmU&hash=2b5b753e6e90f286509198a6ac12715d850d5430&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dW5kZXIgcHJlc3N1cmU&hash=f533d3b5e8307c3f380a33368f4df81e69a75fe4&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

The origin of the idiom "under one's thumb" is not definitively known, but it has been in use since the 17th century. The phrase likely comes from the image of someone being under the physical control of another person, with the thumb representing dominance and control. The thumb is a powerful digit that can exert pressure and control over objects, and by extension, over people. The phrase may have originated from physical gestures or actions where someone literally presses their thumb upon another person to assert dominance or control.

What is the origin of the idiom "under one's thumb" and when to use it?

under {one's} thumb

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dW5kZXIgb25lJ3MgdGh1bWI&hash=ce3252ad6d1b924b60cb5777b4dec0cd18b67922&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dW5kZXIgb25lJ3MgdGh1bWI&hash=8688a0134185c25865ae0915641f9f6d7f55ade9&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to go under

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZ28gdW5kZXI&hash=76cf8432f14402b8ebc0dda144397bc0da4fa8dc&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZ28gdW5kZXI&hash=70d9c155b72f37f9d12b58ad349d7a75406392d7&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to write down

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gd3JpdGUgZG93bg&hash=dbb5962f1ba4709f698351089ca7d1aee03b6d99&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gd3JpdGUgZG93bg&hash=9004927e5da7d3ee67fef01aee399f59d4b69910&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to slow down

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gc2xvdyBkb3du&hash=412e1a1688103c1df39d329a5e796435a28ee6fe&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gc2xvdyBkb3du&hash=4d114730be466252f19c3a3f7e717e0c1733dd2f&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to come back

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY29tZSBiYWNr&hash=5cdb161409b9eb518af37a6e091997a5c454203c&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY29tZSBiYWNr&hash=b7db199123833a0e6694a17c7cabbd859c4e9888&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to carry on

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY2Fycnkgb24&hash=a6a1f074227aeb3091c1c6415ccbc95054a475f6&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY2Fycnkgb24&hash=98a10977c2d42b8915c940f7da52096d8b4651e4&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to run off

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcnVuIG9mZg&hash=b11796a7dc1e80811c033f7e1f53632ded4056da&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcnVuIG9mZg&hash=364ea37cc7a9f5ca6e247751709f42e6447e6fb9&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to set off

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gc2V0IG9mZg&hash=7b1ca90a2a6c0b22a5fd896f5f2b7b1c9a6c722b&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gc2V0IG9mZg&hash=702e2971850f758c900d020ae76a7fef19137f83&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to lounge around

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gbG91bmdlIGFyb3VuZA&hash=ed5b686cb3b427603cbe9d580d2f0e3f528780c9&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gbG91bmdlIGFyb3VuZA&hash=4805cf486bae2f8dccb3c7d102994bc0ccd2d99c&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to drink up

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZHJpbmsgdXA&hash=79671642041f145a4438b470c3bd5603af5ef3be&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZHJpbmsgdXA&hash=e89637ba0bc52bfda713e7944621f9a5867cdabc&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to count up

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY291bnQgdXA&hash=eea65eb341ef69c582b5e7d7b868c30204d004b1&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY291bnQgdXA&hash=7ef469f021a978b8d916599297dc53b5bedeaa4d&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to lock up

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gbG9jayB1cA&hash=959ead41eccd1b5fb7198d2676a80860334882a8&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gbG9jayB1cA&hash=6c2de9852a518e14a89e3c09c7ce7c20d0225a5a&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to clam up

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY2xhbSB1cA&hash=ef94f18d84b4df5980f1793d29e33b9a4acdb950&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY2xhbSB1cA&hash=aad61c151a5ccd16bdfadc904c55775b6e0264d1&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to soldier on

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gc29sZGllciBvbg&hash=3eac3e03679260a570703ca9bf7f855ed00aa555&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gc29sZGllciBvbg&hash=0a72affe00631337bb9c7faf0285f63bc537937e&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to pass out

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcGFzcyBvdXQ&hash=63768e2b589aa8918b5336e226aadc3a36f8fb73&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcGFzcyBvdXQ&hash=69012d75d1a94850eba86d9fb82e1e25c2d4bcbb&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to drive around

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZHJpdmUgYXJvdW5k&hash=3f59fdb8f6e1146ec78002b99dbbea63006a28f0&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZHJpdmUgYXJvdW5k&hash=21411796b29cf177085363ff2e25ae6983e35949&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to hang around

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gaGFuZyBhcm91bmQ&hash=8275070bfd5b20476eae71a4e05fcc1529173de8&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gaGFuZyBhcm91bmQ&hash=eda1a5b2b1a4890296ea388d5733d25f4de5743b&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to cut down

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY3V0IGRvd24&hash=ae3fe10b34faf2c371e31ed0d5b837774c5bb201&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY3V0IGRvd24&hash=e5a43aeb0f93806d842bfcca60da23f04ccf3751&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

to pack up

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcGFjayB1cA&hash=cf9c1ae6ea32862118ead232639c6cf2f1323f4d&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcGFjayB1cA&hash=fbc583e9abd704aecde8ba1be6b3a27bcc5a2f0f&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts&accent=GB

Here you will find the words from Unit 10 - Vocabulary in the Total English Advanced coursebook, such as "clam up", "soldier on", "lounge around", etc.

Total English Advanced « Unité 10 - Vocabulaire »