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"Rule of Thumb"
Before thermometers were invented, brewers would dip a thumb or finger into the mix to assess the temperature before adding yeast. Too cold, and the yeast wouldn't grow. Too hot, and the yeast would die. This yields the phrase a "rule of thumb".

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"It takes a lot of brains to enjoy satire, humor and wit - but none to be offended by them." -- Johnny Hart ("BC", cartoonist, 2000)
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