|
Idiom |
Meaning |
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A finger in every pie |
If someone has a finger in every pie,
they are involved in many
activities
"For information about the town development project, you should
talk to John Brown. He has a finger in every pie." |
|
| Get
your fingers burnt |
If you get your fingers burnt, you suffer as a result of an
unsuccessful action and are nervous about trying again.
"He got his fingers so badly burnt in the last elections that
he
decided to withdraw from politics." |
Keep
your finger on the
pulse |
If you keep your finger on the pulse, you are
constantly aware
of the most recent events or developments.
"A successful investor keeps his
finger on the pulse of international
business." |
|
Keep
your fingers crossed |
If you keep your fingers
crossed, you hope that something will be
successful.
"I'm doing my driving test tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed
for
me." |
Work your fingers to the
bone |
A person who works their fingers to
the bone is extremely
hardworking.
"He deserves his success; he worked his fingers to the bone
when he started the business." |
All thumbs/all fingers and
thumbs |
If you are all fingers and thumbs, you are awkward and clumsy
and do things incorrectly.
"Would you mind wrapping this for me? I'm all fingers and thumbs!" |
|
Five-finger discount |
If somebody gets a five-finger
discount, they take something
without paying. In other words, they steal.
"How could he afford that watch?"
"Who knows - perhaps with a five-finger discount!" |
|
Rap
on the knuckles
|
If someone gets a rap on/across the knuckles, they are punished
or
reprimanded, not very severely, but as a reminder not to do that
again.
"Andy got a rap on the knuckles for coming home late." |
|
Thumb |
|
Stick out like a sore thumb |
If something sticks out like a sore
thumb, it is very obvious or
visible in an unpleasant way.
"The modern building sticks out like a sore thumb among the old
houses." |
| Under
your thumb |
If someone is under your thumb, they are completely under your
control or influence.
"Nobody ever protests. He has the whole group under his thumb." |
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