2006-10-16 02:10:58 · 11 answers · asked by Warlock Fiend 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
I think it originated by the size of stick that you beat your wife with in ancient times. The stick could not be bigger in circumfrence than your thumb.
2006-10-16 02:19:16 · answer #1 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some people are mistaking the Golden Rule which is do unto others as you'd have them do unto you, with the Rule of Thumb, which is just the generally accepted way...you could say, a good rule of thumb is to carry an umbrella if the skies are overcast, or a rule of thumb is 2 cups of water for every cup of rice you want to cook...
2006-10-16 09:20:49 · answer #2 · answered by melouofs 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A rule of thumb is a method you know that works for a particular task. i.e When changing a tap a rule of thumb is always switch the water main off not for water to spray everywhere.
The person mentioning electriciaty and magnetic force is talking about flemmings left hand thumb rule which indicates the direction the current is flowing in a electro-magnet circuit. This has nothing to do with rule of thumb!
2006-10-16 09:18:45 · answer #3 · answered by mr x 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is used as a saying now to represent a general rule that most people would know or abide by (applying to most anything) for example the rule of thumb for the length of a resume is One page...
but the actual "rule of thumb" applied to the size of a stick a man was allowed to use to punish his wife with if she acted against what the church deemed appropriate for a wife. This was (If I remember my history correctly) medieval times. And the rule was that a stick may be as thick as a thumb...
2006-10-16 09:21:21 · answer #4 · answered by Amy B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
rule of thumb is a rough common sense approach or practical approach as opposed to the theoritical one or precise one.
2006-10-16 09:17:00 · answer #5 · answered by mela 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is originally a method to measure the magnetic and electric fields in Physics.
2006-10-16 09:14:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's a solution to a problem from past experiences that is known to work.
2006-10-16 09:12:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The main tool for holding your pint
2006-10-16 09:15:03 · answer #8 · answered by tfd 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Give respect to get respect.Not the other way around.
2006-10-16 09:13:07 · answer #9 · answered by Derek B 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Keep it out of the way of the hammer!
2006-10-16 09:12:45 · answer #10 · answered by Mr D 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋