lift a finger

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To make minimal effort

   To make minimal effort; to help as little as possible.

   • She lets me do all the work and never lifts a finger to help.
   • They weep when they see the country being so much exploited and yet nobody lifts a finger.
   • 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.
2. 2

   To take actual retaliatory or punitive action, as opposed to just complaining.

   • I think living conditions need to get a lot worse before voters start to lift a finger.
3. 3

   Used other than figuratively or idiomatically

   Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lift, finger.

   • 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.

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