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1one of the four long, thin parts that stick out from the hand (or five, if the thumb is included) She ran her fingers through her hair. Hold the material between finger and thumb. He was about to speak but she raised a finger to her lips. The old man wagged his finger at the youths. Topic CollocationsPhysical AppearanceA person may be described as having:eyes
- (bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyes
- deep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyes
- small/beady/sparkling/twinkling/shifty eyes
- piercing/penetrating/steely eyes
- bloodshot/watery/puffy eyes
- bushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrows
- long/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashes
- a flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nose
- a straight/a pointy/a Roman/an aquiline nose
- full/thick/thin/pouty lips
- dry/chapped/cracked lips
- flushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheeks
- soft/chubby/sunken cheeks
- white/perfect/crooked/protruding teeth
- a large/high/broad/wide forehead
- a strong/weak/pointed/double chin
- a long/full/bushy/wispy beard
- a full/thin goatee
- a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil mustache
- pale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skin
- dry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skin
- a dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexion
- deep/fine/small/facial wrinkles
- blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/ginger/gray hair
- straight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hair
- thick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hair
- dyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hair
- long/short/shoulder-length/cropped hair
- a bald/balding/shaved head
- a receding hairline
- a bald patch/spot
- a side/center part
- a long/short/thick/slender/ (disapproving) scrawny neck
- broad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shoulders
- a bare/broad/muscular/small/large chest
- a flat/round/swollen/bulging stomach
- a small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waist
- big/wide/narrow/slim hips
- a straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy back
- thin/slender/muscular arms
- big/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved hands
- long/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingers
- long/muscular/hairy/shapely/ (informal) (often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
- muscular/chubby/ (informal) (disapproving) flabby thighs/calves
- big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet
- a good/slim/slender/hourglass figure
- be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build
- 2-fingered (in adjectives) having the type of fingers mentioned; having or using the number of fingers mentioned long-fingered nimble-fingered a four-fingered chord see light-fingered
- 3the part of a glove that covers the finger
- 4finger (of something) a long, narrow piece of bread, cake, land, etc. The peninsula is a thin finger of farmland. a narrow finger of land pointing out into the sea see ladyfinger Idioms
used to say that the total number of someone or something is very small She could count on the fingers of one hand the people she actually enjoyed being with.
to suffer as a result of doing something without realizing the possible bad results, especially in business He really got his fingers burned dabbling in the stock market.
to hope that your plans will be successful (sometimes putting one finger across another as a sign of hoping for good luck) I'm crossing my fingers that my proposal will be accepted. Keep your fingers crossed!
if the finger of suspicion points or is pointed at someone, they are suspected of having committed a crime, being responsible for something, etc.
to raise your middle finger in the air with the back part of your hand facing someone, done to be rude to someone or to show them that you are angry
to be involved in a lot of different activities and have influence over them, especially when other people think that this is annoying
to always be aware of the most recent developments in a particular situation
to be likely to steal something
(usually used in negative sentences) to touch someone with the intention of hurting them physically I never laid a finger on her. If you lay a finger on me, I'll call the police.
to miss or fail to use an opportunity Don't let the chance to work abroad slip through your fingers.
to do nothing to help someone The kids never lift a finger to help around the house.
to not be able to identify what is wrong or different about a particular situation There was something odd about him but I couldn't put my finger on it.
to accuse someone of doing something We often point the finger at someone else when things go wrong. The article points an accusing finger at the authorities.
to make a sharp noise by moving your second or third finger quickly against your thumb, to attract someone's attention, or to mark the beat of music, for example He snapped his fingers for the waiter to bring more wine.
to work very hard
Check pronunciation: finger