be all thumbs

be all thumbs

To be uncoordinated or clumsy with one's hands. My mother does beautiful calligraphy, but I'm all thumbs—I can barely hold the pen!See also: all, thumb

be all ˈthumbs

(also be all ˌfingers and ˈthumbs) be unable to hold something without dropping or damaging it; be clumsy: He’s all thumbs when it comes to fixing machines.See also: all, thumb

all thumbs, to be

To be clumsy. The locution was already considered proverbial in John Heywood’s collection in 1546 (“When he should get ought, eche fynger is a thumbe”) and has been repeated countless times since.See also: all