Etymology of "Holding Thumbs"

[Richard J Senghas]

I encountered a similar expression (holding thumbs as expression of hoping for good luck) when living in Sweden during 2006-2007, so I wouldn't be at all surprised if the expression is common across several of the Scandinavian/Germanic languages.  I wonder if finding this expression in South Africa might have been a bit of diffusion/language-contact that corresponds to European trade or colonial activities in Africa (perhaps Dutch?).

-RJS
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Richard J. Senghas, Professor            | Sonoma State University
Anthropology/Linguistics                 | 1801 East Cotati Avenue
Coordinator, Human Development Program   | Rohnert Park, CA 94928-3609
Richard.Senghas[at]sonoma.edu            | 707-664-3920 (fax)



On 17 Dec 2009, , at 5:56 PM, SLA Webmaster wrote:

> A query from a visitor to our website:
> "Could you please help direct me to the etymology for the South
> African idiom "I'm holding my thumbs for you"? It means good luck.
> It's my understanding that crossing one's fingers harkens back to
> evoking Christ's cross, as does touching wood. What is the cultural
> root for holdling one's thumbs? Thank you!" -- Dave
> 
> Can anyone help Dave?
> 
> (A similar expression exists in French: «je te tiens les pouces» means
> something akin to "I'm hoping you'll get what you want." -- Alex)
> 
> -- 
> Alex Enkerli
> SLA Web Guru
>