Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Language: Old English


1 noun
Related topics: Drink
fin‧ger1 S2 W2 [countable]

part of your hand

one of the four long thin parts on your hand, not including your thumb:
The woman had a ring on her finger, so I assumed she was married.
We ate with our fingers.
run your fingers through/over/along etc something
She ran her fingers through his hair.

cross your fingers

a) to hope that something will happen the way you want:
We're keeping our fingers crossed that she's going to be OK.
b) to secretly put one finger over another finger, because you are telling a lie - done especially by children:
'He's nice,' said Laura, crossing her fingers under the table.

not lift/raise a finger

to not make any effort to help someone with their work:
I do all the work around the house - Frank never lifts a finger.

put your finger on something

to know or be able to explain exactly what is wrong, different, or unusual about a situation:
There was something about the man that worried Wycliffe, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

not lay a finger on somebody

to not hurt someone at all, especially not to hit them:
If you so much as lay a finger on me, I'll call the police!

have/keep your finger on the pulse (of something)

to always know about the most recent changes or developments in a particular situation or activity:
people with their finger on the pulse of fashion and pop culture

have a finger in every pie/ in many pies

to be involved in many activities and to have influence over a lot of people, used especially when you think someone has too much influence

twist/wrap/wind somebody around your little finger

to be able to persuade someone to do anything that you want:
Ed could wrap his mother around his little finger.

the finger of blame/suspicion

The finger of suspicion immediately fell on Broderick.

of a glove

the part of a glove that covers your finger

shaped like a finger

anything that is long and thin, like the shape of a finger, especially a piece of land, an area of water, or a piece of food:
fish fingers
chocolate fingers
finger of
the long finger of Chile

pull/get your finger out

British English informal used to tell someone to work harder

put two fingers up at somebody

British English informal to show someone you are angry with them in a very offensive way by holding up your first two fingers with the back of your hand facing them

give somebody the finger

American English informal to show someone you are angry with them in a very offensive way by holding up your middle finger with the back of your hand facing them

be all fingers and thumbs

British English to use your hands in an awkward or careless way, so that you drop or break things

long-fingered/slim-fingered etc

HBH having long fingers, slim fingers etc:
lovely long-fingered hands


DFD an amount of an alcoholic drink that is as high in the glass as the width of someone's finger:
two fingers of whiskey
butterfingers, fish finger

; ➔ have your hands/fingers in the till

at till2 (3)

; ➔ count something on the fingers of one hand

at count1 (7)

; ➔ have green fingers

at green1 (10)

; ➔ burn your fingers/get your fingers burnt

at burn1 (16)

; ➔ point the/a finger at somebody

at point2 (9)

; ➔ let something slip through your fingers

at slip1 (15)

; ➔ snap your fingers

at snap1 (7)

; ➔ have sticky fingers

at sticky (6)

; ➔ work your fingers to the bone

at work1 (29)

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