# thumb on the scale

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/thumb-on-the-scale
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An act of bias or a tactic for cheating which creates a situation that unfairly benefits one party involved in an interaction.

## Examples

- The judge kept his thumb on the scale to help his friend win.
- He keeps his thumb on the scale to help his own team win.
- The company put a thumb on the scale by paying the reviewers to give them a higher rating.
- The hiring manager put a thumb on the scale by giving her nephew the interview questions before the other candidates arrived.
- By manipulating the voting data, the corrupt official effectively placed a thumb on the scale to ensure his preferred candidate secured the victory.

## Origin

The idiom alludes to the practice of a butcher who surreptitiously applies pressure with a thumb while weighing meat. By adding the weight of the digit to the scale, the merchant increases the calculated price of the sale at the customer's expense. The phrase remains a standard reference to the act of cheating where one party introduces a hidden advantage to influence a supposedly objective measurement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.