hold, verb transitive

In the colloquial phrase to hold thumbs.
‘to keep one’s fingers crossed’, to hope for luck or success; to fold one’s fingers over one’s thumb to bring good luck.
Note:
‘Holding thumbs’ is the standard expression in South African English for ‘keeping one’s fingers crossed’.
1953 D. Rooke S. Afr. Twins 53‘Hold thumbs that the train is late,’ shouted Tiensie, dashing into the house.
1971 N.G. Sabbagha in Std Encycl. of Sn Afr. IV. 326‘To hold thumbs’ frequently occurs, even in print, as a variant of ‘to keep one’s fingers crossed’.
1980 Sunday Times 7 Dec. 33It seems they knew that disaster was about to strike — rescue workers said the three passengers were ‘holding thumbs’ when their bodies were found.
1982 Sunday Times 31 MayI’m holding thumbs for you!..(The rest of the world crosses fingers.)
1984 Daily Dispatch 2 Aug. 1Zola Budd received a very special ‘luck packet’ from..David Kramer before she left Britain for the Olympic Games...Kramer told [her]..that he was ‘holding thumbs’.
1987 C. Naidoo in Sunday Times 12 Apr. 21They say they are holding thumbs for her and praying that the pregnancy will be trouble-free.
1987 M. Poland Train to Doringbult 191I must fly or I’ll be late for the doc! Hold thumbs hey?
1990 Personality 23 July 15As she kissed her daughter good-bye for the last time, Yolanda said ‘Mama, you must please hold thumbs for me today.’
1992 Weekend Post 15 Aug. (Leisure) 6I would like copies of the recipes they supply...I will be holding thumbs as I have lost my ring-binder containing these excellent recipes.
‘to keep one’s fingers crossed’, to hope for luck or success; to fold one’s fingers over one’s thumb to bring good luck.
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19531992
holbol, adjectiveadj.holism, nounn.
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