thumbing one's nose

Verb

thumb one's nose (third-person singular simple present thumbs one's nose, present participle thumbing one's nose, simple past and past participle thumbed one's nose)

1. To place a thumb upon the tip of the nose, typically with the fingers spread and while simultaneously wiggling one's fingers, in a gesture of disrespect.
   • My brother thumbed his nose in reply to my snide remarks.

   Synonyms:

   cock a snook

2. (figuratively) To act disrespectfully, especially by flouting the object of disrespect.
   • Richard Feynman delighted in thumbing his nose at the dissidents and workers.