under thumb

Even without an Epaminondas showing up to call oppressors to account, the extreme measures a society must enact to keep the oppressed under thumb end up corroding that society from within, making it into a place few sensible people would want to live.

If you are riding with single reins, you will place them on either side of third or little finger, or embracing little, third, and middle fingers and up under thumb in similar manner.

Because when one is talking to "friends" whom one has under thumb and who are about to shoulder heavy responsibilities one can afford to talk freely; because, also, whisky loosens the tongue and enables one to vizualize a flock of poultry out of a basket of eggs!

To Check Bleeding Raise the injured part as high as you can above the heart, press very firmly with sterile pad under thumb or fingers on or into the wound.

And will any poet sing Of a lusher, richer thing Than a ripe May-apple, rolled Like a pulpy lump of gold Under thumb and finger-tips, And poured molten through the lips?