I heard “stick out like a sore thumb” on the TV, and it’s the first time I encountered that phrase. What does it mean?
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“to stick out like a sore thumb” basically means to be very noticeable in an unusual way.
Let’s look at it literally. If your thumb is sore, it’ll be red and maybe even swollen, and it’ll look different than your other fingers, so you’ll notice it – that’s just what this idiom means.
Example:
Everybody else is wearing a white uniform, and you’re wearing a black hoodie – you’re sticking out like a sore thumb!
My pimple is so red, it sticks out like a sore thumb.
Sometimes you’ll also see people say, “stand out like a sore thumb,” and it’s the same thing.
Hope this helps.