All thumbs

Meaning

Clumsy with one's hands.

Usage

Self-deprecating comment about manual ineptitude.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

A figure of speech for someone so clumsy that every finger seems to be a thumb.

Recorded in English since the 16th century.