The BLC Blog

A forum and learning place for British Language Centre students

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Fingers and toes

Spanish people often don't know that in English we have different names for the digits on our hands and the digits on our feet.

On your hands you've got eight fingers and two thumbs (the "b" is silent). On your feet, you've got 10 toes. While the fingers and thumbs all have names, on your feet, only the big toe and little toe are called something different.
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Some expressions using the word finger:

Suzanne gets whatever she wants because she can wrap the boss round her little finger / she's got the boss twisted round her little finger.
(to be able to easily get someone to do what you want)

None of the older kids at school dares lay a finger on Sebastian because his big brother protects him.
(to harm someone)

There's something strange about Jessamyn, but I can't quite put my finger on it.
(to identify clearly why a situation is the way it is, especially when something is not right)

If Paraguay don't go through to the next round, they'll surely point the finger at the player who scored that own goal.
(to accuse someone of being responsible for something bad)

Sophie never lifts/raises a finger around the house; her husband has to do everything.
(to not make any effort to help)

Ask Frederick, he'll know, he's got a finger in every pie.
(to be involved in and have influence over many different activities, often used negatively)

How rude! I only asked him how he was and he gave me the finger!
(offensive gesture)

Can you think of any more?

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