lift a finger

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Compare Matthew 23:4.[1]

Verb

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lift a finger (third-person singular simple present lifts a finger, present participle lifting a finger, simple past and past participle lifted a finger)

  1. (figuratively, chiefly in the negative) To make minimal effort; to help as little as possible.
    She lets me do all the work and never lifts a finger to help.
    • 1973, Kenya National Assembly Official Record (Hansard): June 12 - July 27, page 904:
      They weep when they see the country being so much exploited and yet nobody lifts a finger.
    • 2004, Gerald Shapiro, Little men: novellas and stories, page 6:
      You've known about it all along, you haven't lifted a finger, so don't come crying to me. I don't have time for it.
    • 2005, Larry T. McGehee, B. J. Hutto, Southern Seen: Meditations on Past and Present, page 80:
      Lifting a finger to greet is dangerous because it may make us feel guilty about not lifting a finger to help.
    • 2022, Carolyn Purnell, Blue Jeans, Bloomsbury, →ISBN, page 44:
      Distressed jeans bear all the signs of exertion, while the consumer never has to lift a finger. What could be more luxurious than that?
  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lift,‎ finger.
    • 2010, Katharine Rapoport, Violin For Dummies[1]:
      So if your next note involves lifting a finger, you need to plan to lift the finger promptly to above its spot on the string so that it's ready to play again at any time.

Translations

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ The Holy Bible, [] (King James Version), London: [] Robert Barker, [], 1611, →OCLC, Matthew 23:4:For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.