Cambridge Dictionaries online Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English

  

rule of thumb

Definition

C1 a practical and approximate way of doing or measuring something: A good rule of thumb is that a portion of rice is two handfuls.Approximate
(Definition of rule of thumb from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Word of the Day

bogus

false, not real or not legal

Word of the Day

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.

Learn More