put the finger on (redirected from lay the finger on someone)

put the finger on someone and lay the finger on someone

Sl. to accuse someone; to identify someone as the one who did something. Tom put the finger on John, and John is really mad. He'd better not lay the finger on me. I didn't do it.

See also: finger, put

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put the finger on somebody   (very informal)

to tell someone in authority, especially the police, that someone has committed a crime If Big Joe finds out you put the finger on him, you won't live long enough to spend the reward money.

See also: finger, put