ENGLISH
REFERENCE

brown thumb

idiom
Meaning

A lack of skill at growing plants; a poor gardening skill.


Examples
SIMPLE

I have a brown thumb and kill every plant I buy.

CONTEXTUAL

She admits she has a brown thumb, so she only keeps succulents that need almost no water.

COMPLEX

Despite his grandmother's legendary garden, he inherited only her brown thumb, watching helplessly as even hardy herbs withered in his care.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    brown bag

    A short presentation or seminar on a given subject, especially one given at lunchtime.

  2. 02

    brown bread

    Dead.

  3. 03

    brown noser

    One who brownnoses (flatters or humors somebody in an obsequious manner for personal gain); one who sucks up; a bootlicker, dickrider, ass-kisser, sycophant.

  4. 04

    brown power

    The production of electricity made from conventional sources, such as coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power.

  5. 05

    brown study

    A melancholy mood accompanied by deep thought; a moody daydream.

  6. 06

    butcher's thumb

    A dishonest practice in which a butcher uses their thumb to add extra weight to a scale when weighing meat.

  7. 07

    fash one's thumb

    To bother oneself; to worry about something.

  8. 08

    green thumb

    A natural skill for gardening.

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