finger
finger — noun
1. Each hand ends in a set of slender jointed extensions, typically four alongside
Each hand ends in a set of slender jointed extensions, typically four alongside a shorter thicker one called the thumb. These make it possible to grasp items, lift them, and detect textures.
Linh held the tiny bird gently between her fingers.
collocation: between one's fingers
The doctor asked Aaron to raise his right index finger.
specific finger names: index finger
Sofia drummed her fingers on the wooden table while waiting for the bus.
Tamar's fingers were red and stiff after walking home in the snow.
Tariq counted the coins one by one using his thumb and forefinger.
collocation: thumb and forefinger
- index finger
- middle finger
- ring finger
- little finger
- forefinger
- finger tip
- finger nail
- finger print
Grammar Patterns
[countable] finger + noun (finger bone, finger joint)
Usage Note
In everyday English, the word finger usually refers to the four digits that are not the thumb. The thumb is considered a finger only in formal or anatomical contexts.
Common Mistakes
2. In a hand covering such as a glove, the tube-shaped section designed to enclose
In a hand covering such as a glove, the tube-shaped section designed to enclose one digit snugly.
Ayesha noticed a small hole in the index finger of her woollen glove.
pattern: [specific finger] + of + glove
The tailor carefully sewed each finger of the leather gloves by hand.
Christopher's glove had a tear at the tip of the middle finger.
During the snowfall, Hoa wore gloves with extra-long fingers to keep her wrists warm.
collocation: long fingers (of a glove)
- finger of a glove
- glove finger
Grammar Patterns
[countable] finger of + noun (finger of a glove)
Usage Note
This sense is always used with a possessive or of-phrase (the finger of a glove, the glove's finger). It is never used alone to mean 'glove'.
Common Mistakes
3. Something shaped like a digit — for example, a thin strip of ground that juts in
Something shaped like a digit — for example, a thin strip of ground that juts into a lake, a chocolate-covered pastry stick, or a narrow beam of sunlight entering a room.
A long finger of land stretched out into the calm blue lake.
pattern: finger of + land / coastline
Selim ate a chocolate finger with his afternoon tea.
collocation: chocolate finger / bread finger
A thin finger of light crept through the gap in the curtains.
pattern: finger of + light / smoke
The children each took a bread finger from the basket on the table.
Waves crashed against the narrow finger of coastline on both sides.
- finger of land
- finger of light
- finger of cake
- finger of bread
Grammar Patterns
[countable] a finger of + noun (a finger of land / cake / light)
Usage Note
This sense is mostly used in descriptive writing rather than everyday conversation. Common patterns are a finger of land, a finger of light, or a finger of cake/bread.
cross your fingers
idiomTo put one finger over another as a sign of hope for good luck, or to hope that something will happen or succeed.
We are all crossing our fingers that the train arrives on time tonight.
Cross your fingers for me — I have a big job interview this morning.
To make a rude angry sign by raising the middle finger while keeping the other fingers down on one hand.
The driver got angry and gave the cyclist the finger through his window.
It is illegal in some places to give another person the finger in public.
To say that a particular person or group is responsible for something bad that has happened.
After the accident, people pointed fingers at the company that built the bridge.
Tariq pointed the finger at his partner for not checking the safety equipment.
To be able to identify or name exactly what the problem or the cause of a situation is.
There is something strange about this room, but I cannot put my finger on what it is.
The technician finally put her finger on the reason the computer kept shutting down.
not lift a finger
idiomTo do nothing to help someone when help is needed.
Everyone else was cleaning up the kitchen, but Jason did not lift a finger.
The landlord would not lift a finger to fix the broken heater in the apartment.
snap your fingers
idiomTo make a short sharp sound by rubbing your thumb and middle finger together quickly, often to get someone's attention or to keep time with music.
The music teacher snapped her fingers to help the class keep the beat.
Paloma snapped her fingers to call the waiter over to the table.
To work extremely hard for a long period of time, often doing physical work.
Amelia's grandmother worked her fingers to the bone raising six children alone.
The farmers worked their fingers to the bone during the harvest season last autumn.
To lose an opportunity or something valuable because you were not quick enough or careful enough to keep it.
Sumin watched the scholarship slip through her fingers because she missed the deadline.
The team let victory slip through their fingers by making careless mistakes in the final minute.
Used to emphasize that the number of people or things is very small.
Maya could count her close friends on the fingers of one hand.
How many times have you been late? I can count them on one hand.
To be clumsy with your hands, often dropping things or having difficulty handling objects.
Brian was all thumbs when he tried to wrap the gift.
Why am I so all thumbs today? I keep dropping my tools.
To suffer negative consequences from doing something risky without considering the potential problems.
Sara got her fingers burnt when she invested in that failing company.
He burned his fingers by lending money to a dishonest friend.
finger in the air
idiomDescribes an estimate or method that is not precise or scientific, but based on guesswork.
The budget was just a finger in the air calculation.
Is this plan based on data or a finger in the air guess?
Used when someone is accused or suspected of being responsible for something wrong.
The finger of blame pointed at the manager after the project failed.
Why does the finger of suspicion always fall on the new employee?
A rude way to tell someone to start working harder or make more effort.
If you want to finish on time, you'd better pull your finger out.
Come on, get your finger out and help me clean the garage.
To be involved in many different activities, often in a way that others find annoying.
Diego has a finger in every pie at the community center.
She always has a finger in every pie, from the school board to the gardening club.
To stay informed about the latest developments in a particular area.
A good journalist keeps her finger on the pulse of current events.
Min has his finger on the pulse of the tech industry.
To steal money from your workplace.
The accountant was caught with his fingers in the till.
She had her fingers in the till for years before anyone noticed.
have sticky fingers
idiomTo have a tendency to steal things.
The new assistant has sticky fingers; things keep disappearing.
Be careful with your wallet around him; he has sticky fingers.
To touch someone with the intent to harm them physically.
If you lay a finger on my sister, I'll call the police.
He swore he never laid a finger on the child.
To fail to take advantage of an opportunity.
Don't let this scholarship opportunity slip through your fingers.
She let the chance to study abroad slip through her fingers.
To make no effort to help someone.
My brother never lifts a finger to help with the dishes.
When I needed help, she didn't raise a finger.
To accuse someone of doing something wrong.
The report pointed the finger at the company's CEO.
Why are you pointing the finger at me? I didn't break the vase.
To (not) be able to identify exactly what is wrong or different about a situation.
There's something strange about this room, but I can't put my finger on it.
You've put your finger on the problem: we need better communication.
To make a rude gesture with two fingers to show anger or disrespect.
The driver stuck two fingers up at the cyclist who cut him off.
She put two fingers up at the rule and did what she wanted.
finger — verb
1. To run your fingers over or against the surface of something, often to examine h
To run your fingers over or against the surface of something, often to examine how it feels, to check its condition, or to handle it nervously.
The potter fingered the wet clay gently, searching for any small cracks.
finger + material to check condition
Hassan fingered the rough stone wall, wondering how old the building was.
Léa fingered the soft silk fabric of the dress, impressed by its quality.
finger + fabric to feel texture
Élise fingered the edge of the letter in her pocket, too nervous to read it.
The old man fingered the worn photographs with surprising tenderness.
- finger the fabric
- finger the edge of
Grammar Patterns
finger + noun phrase
Usage Note
This sense describes a hand motion that is often slow, gentle, or thoughtful. It is different from grab, hold, or squeeze, which suggest more force.
Common Mistakes
2. To inform the authorities, especially the police, that a specific individual has
To inform the authorities, especially the police, that a specific individual has committed an illegal act and should be held responsible.
The witness fingered the driver as the person who had caused the accident.
pattern: finger + person + as + noun
No one in the group wanted to be fingered for leaking the secret plan.
passive: be fingered for + noun
Sirin was afraid that her brother would finger her for the missing money.
The police report fingered two men from the neighbourhood as the main suspects.
- finger a suspect
- finger the culprit
- fingered for a crime
Grammar Patterns
finger + person + as + noun phrase
finger + person + for + noun phrase
Usage Note
Frequently used in crime reports, police procedurals, and informal contexts. More formal alternatives are identify, accuse, or name as a suspect.
Common Mistakes
3. To press the keys, strings, or holes of a musical instrument using a specific ar
To press the keys, strings, or holes of a musical instrument using a specific arrangement of the digits so that the correct notes sound.
The pianist fingered the opening chords of the sonata with great care.
finger + chords / notes on an instrument
The guitar teacher showed Tara how to finger the notes for the new song.
To play this piece smoothly, you must finger each key at the right speed.
The violinist fingered the strings carefully while reading the sheet music in front of her.
finger + strings (string instruments)
- finger the keys
- finger the strings
- finger a chord
Grammar Patterns
finger + noun (instrument / notes / chords)
finger a piece of music
Usage Note
Music teachers and advanced players use this sense frequently. The related noun fingering refers to the specific pattern of finger positions for playing a passage.
Word family
- fingeredadjectiveB2
- fingeringnounC1
- fingerprintnounB1
- fingertipnounB1
- fingernailnounA2
- forefingernounB1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Finger, digit, thumb, and knuckle are related but distinct. Finger names one of the four long parts at the end of each hand (index, middle, ring, little) and is the everyday word for daily use. Digit is a formal term from anatomy that covers both fingers and toes — a doctor might say 'the patient injured two digits on his left hand.' Thumb is the short thick digit opposite the other fingers, used for grasping. In casual English, people say finger and thumb, not finger and finger. Knuckle refers to the joint where a finger meets the hand, not the finger itself. For example: 'Hassan tapped his knuckles on the door' describes a different body part entirely. For most learners, learning finger, thumb, and knuckle is enough for everyday conversation.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word finger comes from Old English finger, which goes back to the Proto-Germanic word *fingraz. This Germanic root is related to the Proto-Indo-European word *penkwe, meaning 'five' — a clear reference to the five digits on each hand. Similar words exist in other Germanic languages, such as German Finger, Dutch vinger, and Swedish finger. The number connection puts the finger's name in the same ancient word family as the number five.