Meaning & Origin
A rule of thumb is a quick, experience-based guideline. It likely comes from using a thumb’s width for rough measurements. A common tale linking it to an old law about wife‑beating has been debunked.
Pronunciation Guide
Say it as RULE of THUMB: /ruːl əv θʌm/.
Usage & Sentence Examples
- A good rule of thumb is to test one change at a time.
- By rule of thumb, water early in the morning.
- As a rule of thumb, don’t reuse weak passwords.
Synonyms
- general guideline
- heuristic
- ballpark rule
- rule of practice
- rough guide
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