two thumbs up

Strong approval.

The phrase originates from the television programme *At the Movies*, co-hosted by the American film critics Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel. The two men were noted for a professional relationship defined by disparate tastes and the frequent exchange of verbal barbs. A favourable review from either critic was signalled by a raised thumb; a rare moment of consensus between the two resulted in the gesture being doubled.

By the 1980s, the visual shorthand of Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert both providing a positive recommendation became a sought-after endorsement for film studios. The specific combination of their two thumbs functioned as a proprietary trademark and a cultural signal that a film had overcome their customary sparring. The gesture transitioned from a televised gimmick into a general English idiom for total approval, outlasting the critics' original broadcast.