put a finger on something
- put a finger on something
If you are able to identify or understand something such as the cause of a problem or the solution to it, you put your finger on it.
The atmosphere at the meeting was strange, but Marie couldn't put a finger on the cause of it 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.
English Idioms & idiomatic expressions.
2014.
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put (your) finger on (something) — to discover the exact reason why a situation is the way it is, especially when something is wrong. I know there s something wrong, but I can t put my finger on exactly what it is. (often negative) I think you ve just put your finger on the… … New idioms dictionary
not put your finger on something — not put your finger on sth idiom 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. Main entry: ↑fingeridiom … Useful english dictionary
put your finger on — to find out the exact nature of (something) : ↑identify I feel that something is wrong but I can t quite put my finger on the problem. • • • Main Entry: ↑finger … Useful english dictionary
put one's finger on something — identify something exactly he cannot put his finger on what has gone wrong … Useful english dictionary
finger — fin|ger1 W2S2 [ˈfıŋgə US ər] n ↑finger, ↑fingernail, ↑thumb ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(part of your hand)¦ 2 cross your fingers 3 not lift/raise a finger 4 put your finger on something 5 not lay a finger on somebody 6 have/keep your finger on the pulse (of… … Dictionary of contemporary English
finger — [[t]fɪ̱ŋgə(r)[/t]] ♦♦ fingers, fingering, fingered 1) N COUNT Your fingers are the four long thin parts at the end of each hand. → See also light fingered She suddenly held up a small, bony finger and pointed across the room... She ran her… … English dictionary
put — W1S1 [put] v past tense and past participle put present participle putting [T] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(move to place)¦ 2¦(change somebody s situation/feelings)¦ 3¦(write/print something)¦ 4¦(express)¦ 5 put a stop/an end to something 6 put something into… … Dictionary of contemporary English
finger — [fiŋ′gər] n. [ME < OE, akin to Ger finger, Goth figgrs, prob. < IE base * penkwe, FIVE] 1. any of the five jointed parts projecting from the palm of the hand; esp., any of these other than the thumb 2. the part of a glove that covers one of … English World dictionary
put — verb past tense putpresent participle putting MOVE STH 1 (transitive always + adv/prep) to move something from one place or position into another, especially using your hands: put sth in/on/there etc: Put those bags on the table. | You should put … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
put — verb past tense putpresent participle putting MOVE STH 1 (transitive always + adv/prep) to move something from one place or position into another, especially using your hands: put sth in/on/there etc: Put those bags on the table. | You should put … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
