Idioms & Slang

Rule of thumb

ruːl əv θʌm

idiom

What does Rule of thumb mean?

A general practical guideline.

Example sentence

"Rule of thumb: save 20% of income."

American usage tip

Approximate, not exact rules.

Related Idioms & Slang words

Bite the bullet
To do something unpleasant you've been avoiding.
Under the gun
Under intense pressure or deadline.
The whole nine yards
Everything; the full extent.
Hit the sack
To go to bed.
Better late than never
Doing it late beats not doing it.
Play it by ear
To decide as things happen, without a plan.
Spill the beans
To reveal a secret.
Silver lining
The positive side of a bad situation.

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