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Reader question: Please explain “under the thumb” in this passage (China’s leaders nod to the left, but look anxiously to the right, The Economist, February 3, 2011): Forcing people out of their homes by cutting off utilities or road access is banned. Courts are to settle disputes...The rules do not apply to evictions from rural land, where most disputes occur. In such cases, even more than usual, the courts are under the thumb of local governments. My comments: It means dominance, total control. In the absence of an independent judicial system, courts are often told by local governments what to do – whether a defendant is guilty or innocent – sometimes with wanton disregard to legal evidence. In other words, local courts and governments are pressured to come to politically correct verdicts. That is to say, the so-called “stability is paramount”. Anyways, this is what it is. That is, do not let the situation stop you from learning another good phrase – under the thumb. A nice nimble little phrase it is too, don’t you think? Two interesting theories as to its origin, which Dictionary.com says dates to the 16th century (To be under (someone’s) thumb “be totally controlled by that person” is recorded from 1586). One theory points to ancient Rome, where gladiators were thrown into an arena to fight other gladiators or, for better or worse, tigers and lions. It is said at the end of some such spectacles, the fate of the gladiators was to be decided by the spectators. If the spectators liked a gladiator’s performance, they’d give him a sign of “thumb up”, raising their thumbs upward. This means the gladiator would live – to fight another day. On the other hand, if the audience did not like his performance, they would give him the “thumb down” sign, by pointing their thumbs downward. This means death for the gladiator. | 
