What Does "Thumb on the Scale" Mean?
"Thumb on the scale" is an English idiom. It means "to manipulate or influence a situation or outcome unfairly."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "thumb on the scale" used in a sentence:- The corrupt official was caught with his thumb on the scale, rigging the election results.
- In a fair competition, no one should have their thumb on the scale to gain an advantage.
- They suspected that some individuals had their thumb on the scale, affecting the fairness of the selection process.

What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Thumb on the Scale" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
A Quick Test
You now know what "thumb on the scale" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!
Gold

Silver

Bronze
- This test has questions.
- A correct answer is worth 5 points.
- You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
- Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
- Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
- 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?