A rule of thumb is a principle with broad application that is not intended to be strictly accurate or reliable for every situation. It is an easily learned and easily applied procedure for approximately calculating or recalling some value, or for making some determination. Compare this to heuristic, a similar concept used in mathematical discourse, psychology, and computer science, particularly in algorithm design.
Read more about Rule Of Thumb: Origin of The Phrase, Thumb As Measurement Device, Thumb Used For Regulation, Examples of Usage
Famous quotes containing the words rule of, rule and/or thumb:
“For all of us Frenchmen, the guiding rule of our epoch is to be faithful to France.”
—Charles De Gaulle (1890–1970)
“Democracy don’t rule the world,
You’d better get that in your head;
This world is ruled by violence
But I guess that’s better left unsaid.”
—Bob Dylan [Robert Allen Zimmerman] (b. 1941)
“Give a lift to a tomato, you expect her to be nice, don’t ya? After all, what kind of dames thumb rides, Sunday school teachers?”
—Martin Goldsmith, and Edgar G. Ulmer. Charles Haskell, Jr. (Edmund MacDonald)