put the finger on (one)

put the finger on (one)

To identify and accuse one of doing something; to inform on one to an authority figure. Don't you dare put the finger on me! I had nothing to do with the deal going sour. I fear my life is in danger now that I've put the finger on the mob boss.

See also: finger, on, put

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

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, on, put

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

put the finger on

Inform on, as in The witness put the finger on the defendant. [Slang; c. 1920] Also see put one's finger on.

See also: finger, on, put

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

put the finger on someone

If you put the finger on someone, you tell someone in authority that they have done something wrong or blame them for something bad. A lot of people will point to the defeat and put the finger on the head coach. Their report put the finger on diesel pollution.

See also: finger, on, put, someone

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

put the finger on

inform against someone to the authorities. informal

See also: finger, on, put

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

put the finger on someone

tv. to identify someone (for someone else, such as the police). (Underworld.) Tyrone put the finger on the killer, then got out of town fast.

See also: finger, on, put, someone

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

put the finger on

Slang

To inform on: The witness put the finger on the killer.

See also: finger, on, put

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.