A general rule of thumb regarding eclipses is to avoid major decision-making in the week before an eclipse.

（日食に関する一般的な経験則から言うと、日食が起こる1週間前には重要は決定は避けるべきなのです。）
　cafeastrologyの山羊座第2デーク・1月の月報より。1/26の日食について。

• rule of thumb=「経験に基づいた原則、目分量（a broadly accurate guide or principle, based on experience or practice rather than theory／a way of calculating something which is not exact but which will help you to be correct enough）」。親指で物を測るのに由来しているとか。このあいだ宮迫、腰で洗濯機の幅測ってたねw "rule of hip"...?
  • As a general rule of thumb, children this age should not spend more than one hour on homework.
  • A good rule of thumb is to cook two handfuls of rice per person.
  • As a rule of thumb, plant carrot seeds two inches deep.
  • His work with the youth group is largely by rule of thumb.