Usage Note
Daumen is the thumb, the stoutest of the five fingers. The idiom jemandem die Daumen drücken (to press one's thumbs for someone) means to keep one's fingers crossed and is used constantly in everyday speech.
Examples
"Sie drückte ihm die Daumen vor der Prüfung."
Natural Translation
She kept her fingers crossed for him before the exam.
Literal Translation
She pressed the thumbs for him before the exam.
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