thumb a ride
Beg for transport
To thumb a ride is to hitchhike—standing by a road with thumb extended, signaling to passing drivers that you want a lift.
The gesture mimics pointing in your direction of travel: We thumbed a ride to the coast.
The phrase captures the iconic posture of the hitchhiker.
- hitchTemporary difficulty or snag
- truckHeavy freight vehicle
- hitchhikingSoliciting free rides
- liftMechanism for vertical transport
- vagabondHomeless, aimless wanderer
shoulder · rest stop · wave · drifter · pickup · roadside · side of the road · open road · traveler · backpacker · adventure · highway · passing car · wanderlust · on the road · long haul · cross country · nomad