Hence, the fate of the gladiator is “under the thumb” or at the mercy of the spectators.
Another theory, equally interesting and perhaps no less disturbing, points to old England, when, in days long gone by, husbands were permitted by law to beat their wives with sticks, so long as the sticks were no thicker than the husband’s thumb. Hence, if a wife went “under the thumb”, she was under the discipline of the stick holder. In other words, she was administered a beating by her husband.
Or, domestic violence in today’s language.
Oh well, good thing that this practice is something long gone by. Today, in a quaint reverse of fortune, many husbands actually find themselves under the thumb of their wives. This example, from GlamourMagazine.co.uk (Russell Brand: ‘I’m under the thumb’, November 12, 2010):
Oh dear - could there be trouble in paradise already for newlyweds Russell Brand and Katy Perry? Brand told reporters that he already feels “under the thumb” just weeks into his marriage.
The British comedian said that the couple had already begun to behave like a stereotypical husband and wife. Talking on ITV1 chat show Loose Women said: “It was like a normal wedding. Everyone gets all worked up about show business and celebrity but ... it was just normal.
“It’s just a normal marriage. The other day I put a shirt on, we're getting ready to go somewhere, and she went ‘you’re wearing that shirt are you?’
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