Rule of thumb?

Reader question:

Please explain this paragraph, particularly “her rule of thumb”:

Clinton’s diet isn’t as strict as her mostly-vegan husband’s; her regimen has no labels and is made of common sense. Clinton’s aides said her rule of thumb is “If it looks bad for you, it probably is,” the Associated Press reported.

My comments:

Hillary Clinton, that is, the Democratic presidential candidate, wife of former US President Bill Clinton.

Now, to paraphrase:

Regarding food, Hillary isn’t as picky as her husband. She doesn’t have a lot of do’s and don’ts. She uses her common sense. Her aids said that her rule of thumb is “If it looks bad for you, it probably is.”

In other words, she has a simple rule, a rule from experience – if the food looks like good food, she eats it. If the food looks bad, she turns away.

Rule of thumb is a rule one abides by from habit, experience, common sense rather than from the result of, say, science-based analysis and research.

Literally, you see, rule of thumb means rule of the thumb, or let the thumb (one’s short thick finger, known as the big finger in Chinese) rule, take control. Now Hillary doesn’t actually dip her thumb into her food and suck her thumb to see if it’s any good – she uses her eyes instead, but if you understand “rule of the thumb” this way, you are not far off, as a matter of fact.

As a matter of fact, the British believe brewers in the past did exactly that, dipping their thumb into the beer to test its temperature and taste, and thus gave rise to the phrase.

There are other theories as pointing to the origins of the rule of thumb. The simplest as well as the most plausible one comes from carpentry. Well, we can all imagine a carpenter in the old days using their thumbs and fingers as a form of measurement, before modern rulers and measurements come about.

When a carpenter deems that he needs a stick that’s one and half in thickness and five thumbs in length, for example, he knows exactly what he wants. By modern standards, though, that’s not being exactly precise.

That’s the thing with “rule of thumb” – it may not be 100 percent accurate, but, usually, it suffices the situation.

Here, media examples of people who apply this rule in their lives:

1. The cruise industry bills cruising as a great value. For one upfront price, your accommodations, meals and trip are paid for.

But most cruisers end up spending more. Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor of CruiseCritic.com, says her rule of thumb is to assume she’ll spend half the amount of the cruise fare on incidentals. She recommends an online cruise budget calculator to help estimate all your costs.

Wendy Perrin, consumer news editor at Conde Nast Traveler magazine, also cautions that “the cruise fare you see advertised is not the price you’ll end up paying. The advertised fare, which is usually for the smallest, windowless cabin, does not include mandatory taxes and port fees, mandatory gratuities, or highly recommended additional charges, such as cruise insurance.”

You’ll also have to buy plane tickets to the departure port if it’s not within driving distance. But there are ways to keep costs down. Here are a few:

CABIN SELECTION: The cheapest cabins will be inside — no balcony, no windows. This might sound depressing, but on many cruise ships, public spaces are so vast and appealing that you won’t want to be in your room unless you’re sleeping.

There are multiple decks with pools, atriums and libraries — all to be enjoyed for free — not to mention the scenic views. On an Alaska trip, you’ll spend part of a day at sea cruising past an enormous glacier — an incredible sight, no extra charge.

- Tips for cruising on a budget, AP, January 20, 2009.

2. When you go into a job interview, you’re focused on wearing your best outfit, whether it’s a tailored suit or a professional dress. But once you land a job (and start to get a little too comfortable in the office), you might find yourself slacking in the wardrobe department.

You probably have a fairly good idea of what’s appropriate for work and what isn’t. Unfortunately, fashion trends and comfort can blur that line, making finding that perfect work outfit more difficult.

So, how are you supposed to dress in the office? My rule of thumb is to always dress where you’re headed, not where you are or have been. Your appearance reflects your job aspirations, and people within your organization will only picture you in a higher position if you dress like it.

Here are some guidelines to live by when it comes to your professional wardrobe:

Observe co-workers for appropriate outfits. While it's true that not everyone dresses how she should in the office, you can certainly model your workplace style off someone else’s you admire. Different corporate cultures call for different styles, so get to know your company’s informal dress code through observation.

Invest in classic, yet stylish, basics. A tailored suit, wrap dress, and leather bag never go out of style. Make sure these items are always ready by having them cleaned and pressed after wearing them.

Add color to your basics. Don’t wear a black suit with a plain white blouse. Instead, add in your fashion personality by wearing a color underneath. It will make you appear confident and stylish, yet still professional.

Wear makeup. Women who wear makeup earn more than those who don’t and are more likely to be promoted. You don’t have to go overboard--natural-looking foundation, eye shadow, and mascara might be all you need.

- Comfort vs Fashion: What Should Women Wear to Work? By Heather Huhman, Yahoo.com, August 19, 2011.

3. George Clooney revealed one of his most important rules when it comes to marriage with his beautiful wife, Amal Alamuddin, and it’s incredibly sweet! His rule of thumb is to never go a week without seeing one another and to always keep in touch, which isn’t hard considering the two have homes around the globe.

In a recent interview with Hello!, Clooney said, “We have a rule whereby we are never apart for more than a week. We also stay in touch via social media, so we try to keep close even if we’re in different parts of the world.” The Money Monster actor, 54, and his international rights lawyer wife, 38, frequent their homes in London and Los Angeles to touch base with one another during their hectic schedules. “We have a place in London now where it’s easy for us to spend a lot of time together and I can work on new film projects — writing, reading scripts. Or we can go to Lake Como or spend time in Los Angeles when I need to have meetings for my acting work, or hang around with some of my friends.”

- George Clooney Reveals His Most Important Rule In Marriage, Fame10.com, April 1, 2016.

About the author:

Zhang Xin is Trainer at chinadaily.com.cn. He has been with China Daily since 1988, when he graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Write him at: zhangxin@chinadaily.com.cn, or raise a question for potential use in a future column.