hop-o'-my-thumb
Definition
Noun - A very small person or thing: "hop-o'-my-thumb" refers to a tiny individual, often used to describe a dwarf or a diminutive figure. The term is derived from the character in the fairy tale "Hop-o'-My-Thumb," a clever and small boy.
Usage Examples
- (A very small boy in a story.)
- (A dwarf or very small person.)
Advanced Usage
- "like a hop-o'-my-thumb": used as a simile to describe something or someone extremely small or insignificant.
- The new car was like a hop-o'-my-thumb compared to the massive SUV. (Very small in comparison.)
Variants and Related Words
- Hop (v): to jump or move quickly.
- The rabbit will hop across the field. (Jump with both feet.)
- Thumb (n): the short, thick first digit of the hand.
- He pricked his thumb on a thorn. (The finger next to the index finger.)
Synonyms
- Dwarf: a person of unusually small stature.
- Pygmy: a member of a very small people or a very small thing.
- Midget: a very small person, often used in historical contexts.
Related Idioms
- "a hop, skip, and a jump": a short distance.
- The store is a hop, skip, and a jump from here. (Very close.)
- "all thumbs": clumsy or awkward.
- He is all thumbs when trying to fix a watch. (Lacking dexterity.)