I. fin ‧ ger 1 S2 W2 /ˈfɪŋɡə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Language: Old English ]
1 . 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.
⇨ ↑ index finger , ↑ little finger , ↑ forefinger , ↑ middle finger , ↑ ring finger
2 . 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.
3 . 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.
4 . 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.
5 . not lay a finger on somebody to not hurt someone at all, especially to not hit them:
Don’t lay a finger on me, or I’ll call the police!
6 . 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 who have their finger on the pulse of fashion and pop culture
7 . 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
8 . 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.
9 . the finger of blame/suspicion :
The finger of suspicion immediately fell on Broderick.
10 . OF A GLOVE the part of a ↑ glove that covers your finger
11 . 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
12 . pull/get your finger out British English informal used to tell someone to work harder
13 . 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
14 . 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
15 . be all fingers and thumbs British English to use your hands in an awkward or careless way, so that you drop or break things
16 . long-fingered/slim-fingered etc having long fingers, slim fingers etc:
lovely long-fingered hands
17 . DRINK 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 ↑ till 2 (3), ⇨ count something on the fingers of one hand at ↑ count 1 (7), ⇨ have green fingers at ↑ green 1 (10), ⇨ burn your fingers/get your fingers burnt at ↑ burn 1 (16), ⇨ point the/a finger at somebody at ↑ point 2 (9), ⇨ let something slip through your fingers at ↑ slip 1 (15), ⇨ snap your fingers at ↑ snap 1 (7), ⇨ have sticky fingers at ↑ sticky (6), ⇨ work your fingers to the bone at ↑ work 1 (29)
II. finger 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
1 . to touch or handle something with your fingers:
She fingered the beautiful cloth.
2 . informal if someone, especially a criminal, fingers another criminal, they tell the police what that person has done
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ touch to put your fingers or hand onto someone or something for a very short time:
Don’t touch the iron – it’s hot!
▪ feel to touch something with your fingers in order to find out about it:
Feel how soft this material is.
|
I felt his forehead. It was cold.
▪ handle to touch something and pick it up and hold it in your hands:
Children should always wash their hands before handling food.
|
The glass was very fragile, and she handled it with great care.
|
Please do not handle the merchandise.
▪ finger to touch or handle something with your fingers, especially while you are thinking of other things:
She fingered the heavy necklace around her neck.
▪ rub to move your hand over a surface while pressing it:
Bob rubbed his eyes and yawned.
▪ scratch to rub part of your body with your nails, often because it ITCHES :
The dog kept scratching its ear.
|
Bob scratched his head thoughtfully.
▪ tickle to move your fingers lightly over someone’s body in order to make them laugh:
The baby giggled as I tickled him.
▪ grope to touch someone’s body in a sexual way when they do not want to be touched:
The officer was accused of groping several women in his platoon.