Nice piece in Guardian.

[RichardM]

Re: Nice piece in Guardian.

"The English phrase rule of thumb refers to a principle with broad application that is not intended to be strictly accurate or reliable for every situation. It refers to an easily learned and easily applied procedure or standard, based on practical experience rather than theory."

We know what it means, but where did originate? Why is it rule of thumb and not rule of little finger?

[Tuerto]

Re: Nice piece in Guardian.

We know what it means, but where did originate? Why is it rule of thumb and not rule of little finger?

:thumbup:

[Tuerto]

Re: Nice piece in Guardian.

"The English phrase rule of thumb refers to a principle with broad application that is not intended to be strictly accurate or reliable for every situation. It refers to an easily learned and easily applied procedure or standard, based on practical experience rather than theory."

I didn't make myself clear snaggs, i know what it means, just don't know where the phrase came from :thumbup:

[xsnaggle]

Re: Nice piece in Guardian.

I didn't make myself clear snaggs, i know what it means, just don't know where the phrase came from :thumbup:

I think it came from times when people were 'educated' in the modern sense, which is where things like a gross (144) came from (because it was the largest number you could count easily on the fingers of your hands).
I think that the rule of thumb was another measure based on the principle that the average distance from the tip of a person's thumb to the first joint, measured on the top was roughly 1 inch. So small but important things could be measured by it. Similarly the distance from an adult male's finger tip to the tip of his nose was generally regarded as about 1 yard, and in the absence of a ruler or tape it was how drapers measured cloth. I can still remember as a child watching my mother buying net for the curtains and the vendor measuring it like that in the market.

[RichardM]

Re: Nice piece in Guardian.

This what I enjoy about this board, we can start with a conversation about an article in the Guardian that is about what Mick Mc is doing at Cardiff City and before long we are talking about the rule of thumb.

[Tuerto]

Re: Nice piece in Guardian.

I think it came from times when people were 'educated' in the modern sense, which is where things like a gross (144) came from (because it was the largest number you could count easily on the fingers of your hands).
I think that the rule of thumb was another measure based on the principle that the average distance from the tip of a person's thumb to the first joint, measured on the top was roughly 1 inch. So small but important things could be measured by it. Similarly the distance from an adult male's finger tip to the tip of his nose was generally regarded as about 1 yard, and in the absence of a ruler or tape it was how drapers measured cloth. I can still remember as a child watching my mother buying net for the curtains and the vendor measuring it like that in the market.

Very interesting, Cheers Snaggs :thumbup: