five-finger exercise

See also: five finger exercise

English

Noun

five-finger exercise (plural five-finger exercises)

1. (music) A musical composition for the piano, designed to require the use of all the fingers of the hand for the purpose of skill development.
   • 1899, Arthur Conan Doyle, chapter 20, in A Duet:

     It was the singular room which Carlyle had constructed in the hopes that he could shut out all the noises of the universe, the crowing of cocks, and the jingling of a young lady's five-finger exercise in particular.

2. (figuratively, by extension) An activity which is undertaken for the purpose of skill development.
   • 2008 July 9, Richard Corliss, "Batman Is Back—TIME Reviews The Dark Knight," Time:

     Batman Begins, the 2005 film that launched Nolan's series, was a mere five-finger exercise. This is the full symphony.