Finger Idioms: The symbolism of the hand is well-endowed and diverse in nature. Finger related idioms are used in the expression of certain abstract concepts. Finger phrases are often used to point in any direction and also to provide guidance.
Hand gestures, along with the sign language of fingers, helped in the amalgamation of linguistically separated Indian nations. Pointing finger idioms are often used to indicate or to provide any particular direction.
Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understand their actual meaning.
Name of Finger Idioms
List of Finger Idioms
- Point the Finger At /Keep One’s Fingers Crossed
- Work One’s Fingers to the Bone
- Not Lift a Finger
- Someone’s Fingerprints Are All Over (Something)
- Have a Finger in Every Pie.
- Finger-Pointing
- Keep/ Have Your Fingers on the Pulse
- Have sticky fingers
- Let slip through fingers
- All fingers and thumbs
- Put something on the long finger
- Hang on by the fingernails
- Put a finger on something
- Get your fingers burned
- Five-finger discount
- Stick out like a sore thumb
- Under your thumb
Meanings and Examples of some common Finger related Idioms
Point the Finger At
Meaning: This idiom describes the act of accusing someone openly
Example: It is not right to point the finger at someone without any proof.
Keep One’s Fingers Crossed
Meaning: This idiom describes someone hoping for something good to happen
Example: She kept her fingers crossed for him to safely reach Germany
Work One’s Fingers to the Bone
Meaning: This idiom describes someone who is working very hard
Example: He had worked his fingers to the bone to get into his dream university.
Not Lift a Finger
Meaning: This idiom describes the act of not making any attempt to help
Example: The husband never lifted a finger to help with the child’s homework
Someone’s Fingerprints Are All Over (Something)
Meaning: This idiom describes a visible influence of someone on something
Example: He is too innocent to pull off this act without having someone else’s fingerprints all over it
Have a Finger in Every Pie
Meaning: This idiom describes being involved in a lot of different activities
Example: The monitor wanted to have a finger in every pie in his class
Finger-Pointing
Meaning: To blame somebody else for something
Example: This is not the right time for pointing fingers at each other.
Keep/ Have Your Fingers on the Pulse
Meaning: To keep a note of the daily and latest information
Example: Anish always says that he has his finger on the pulse of the textile industry he owns
Have sticky fingers
Meaning: This idiom describes the act of having an intention to steal something
Example: The manager doubts that the new cashier has sticky fingers
Let slip through fingers
Meaning: This idiom describes someone failing to get an opportunity
Example: You are getting a golden opportunity, don’t let it slip through your fingers.
All fingers and thumbs
Meaning: Someone who is very clumsy
Example: She is all fingers and thumbs when it comes to hosting a program
Put something on the long finger
Meaning: Delaying something for a long time
Example: I have been putting this work on the long finger since yesterday
Hang on by the fingernails
Meaning: Someone who is somehow trying to survive a difficult situation
Example: He is hanging on by the fingernails after being thrown out of the office
Put a finger on something
Meaning: To have a knowledge of something and precisely identify them
Example: He was unable to put his finger on the note that sir has given us
Get your fingers burned
Meaning: This idiom describes the action of suffering consequences of some work done previously
Example: If you get involved in that matter, you might get your fingers burned
Five-finger discount
Meaning: This idiom describes the act of owning something by stealing that thing
Example: To get the necklace for his wife, he used his five-finger discount
Stick out like a sore thumb
Meaning: Be unique from the surrounding people or things
Example: The entire class was punished because of one naughty boy who stuck out like a sore thumb
Under your thumb
Meaning: This idiom describes the action of being completely influenced by someone
Example: She was entirely under the thumb of her instructor.
