finger
finger — 名詞
- fingersingular
- fingersplural
1. Each hand ends in a set of slender jointed extensions, typically four alongside
手指
手掌末端細長的部分
Each hand ends in a set of slender jointed extensions, typically four alongside a shorter thicker one called the thumb. These make it possible to grasp items, lift them, and detect textures.
Linh held the tiny bird gently between her fingers.
Linh 用她的手指輕輕捧著那隻小鳥。
collocation: between one's fingers
The doctor asked Aaron to raise his right index finger.
醫生請 Aaron 舉起他的右手食指。
specific finger names: index finger
Sofia drummed her fingers on the wooden table while waiting for the bus.
Sofia 在等公車的時候，用手指在木桌上敲打。
Tamar's fingers were red and stiff after walking home in the snow.
Tamar 在雪中走回家後，手指又紅又僵。
Tariq counted the coins one by one using his thumb and forefinger.
Tariq 用拇指和食指一枚一枚地數著硬幣。
collocation: thumb and forefinger
- index finger
- middle finger
- ring finger
- little finger
- forefinger
- finger tip
- finger nail
- finger print
文法句型
[countable] finger + noun (finger bone, finger joint)
用法筆記
In everyday English, the word finger usually refers to the four digits that are not the thumb. The thumb is considered a finger only in formal or anatomical contexts.
常見錯誤
2. In a hand covering such as a glove, the tube-shaped section designed to enclose
指套
手套上包住手指的部分
In a hand covering such as a glove, the tube-shaped section designed to enclose one digit snugly.
Ayesha noticed a small hole in the index finger of her woollen glove.
Ayesha 發現她羊毛手套的食指部位有一個小破洞。
pattern: [specific finger] + of + glove
The tailor carefully sewed each finger of the leather gloves by hand.
裁縫師用手工仔細縫合皮手套的每個指套。
Christopher's glove had a tear at the tip of the middle finger.
Christopher 手套的中指指尖處裂開了。
During the snowfall, Hoa wore gloves with extra-long fingers to keep her wrists warm.
下雪時，Hoa 戴著指套加長的手套來保暖手腕。
collocation: long fingers (of a glove)
- finger of a glove
- glove finger
文法句型
[countable] finger of + noun (finger of a glove)
用法筆記
This sense is always used with a possessive or of-phrase (the finger of a glove, the glove's finger). It is never used alone to mean 'glove'.
常見錯誤
3. Something shaped like a digit — for example, a thin strip of ground that juts in
指狀物
細長如手指的物體或部分
Something shaped like a digit — for example, a thin strip of ground that juts into a lake, a chocolate-covered pastry stick, or a narrow beam of sunlight entering a room.
A long finger of land stretched out into the calm blue lake.
一道狹長的陸地伸入平靜的藍色湖泊中。
pattern: finger of + land / coastline
Selim ate a chocolate finger with his afternoon tea.
Selim 喝下午茶時吃了一根巧克力手指餅乾。
collocation: chocolate finger / bread finger
A thin finger of light crept through the gap in the curtains.
一縷細細的光線從窗簾的縫隙中透了進來。
pattern: finger of + light / smoke
The children each took a bread finger from the basket on the table.
每個孩子都從桌上的籃子裡拿了一根麵包條。
Waves crashed against the narrow finger of coastline on both sides.
海浪拍打著狹長岬角的兩側。
- finger of land
- finger of light
- finger of cake
- finger of bread
文法句型
[countable] a finger of + noun (a finger of land / cake / light)
用法筆記
This sense is mostly used in descriptive writing rather than everyday conversation. Common patterns are a finger of land, a finger of light, or a finger of cake/bread.
cross your fingers
idiomTo put one finger over another as a sign of hope for good luck, or to hope that something will happen or succeed.
祈求好運；祝成功
We are all crossing our fingers that the train arrives on time tonight.
Cross your fingers for me — I have a big job interview this morning.
To make a rude angry sign by raising the middle finger while keeping the other fingers down on one hand.
對某人比中指
The driver got angry and gave the cyclist the finger through his window.
It is illegal in some places to give another person the finger in public.
To say that a particular person or group is responsible for something bad that has happened.
指責；歸咎於
After the accident, people pointed fingers at the company that built the bridge.
Tariq pointed the finger at his partner for not checking the safety equipment.
To be able to identify or name exactly what the problem or the cause of a situation is.
確切指出（問題或原因）
There is something strange about this room, but I cannot put my finger on what it is.
The technician finally put her finger on the reason the computer kept shutting down.
not lift a finger
idiomTo do nothing to help someone when help is needed.
袖手旁觀；一點忙也不幫
Everyone else was cleaning up the kitchen, but Jason did not lift a finger.
The landlord would not lift a finger to fix the broken heater in the apartment.
snap your fingers
idiomTo make a short sharp sound by rubbing your thumb and middle finger together quickly, often to get someone's attention or to keep time with music.
彈手指（發出響聲）
The music teacher snapped her fingers to help the class keep the beat.
Paloma snapped her fingers to call the waiter over to the table.
To work extremely hard for a long period of time, often doing physical work.
拼命工作；辛勤勞動
Amelia's grandmother worked her fingers to the bone raising six children alone.
The farmers worked their fingers to the bone during the harvest season last autumn.
To lose an opportunity or something valuable because you were not quick enough or careful enough to keep it.
錯失（機會等）；從手中溜走
Sumin watched the scholarship slip through her fingers because she missed the deadline.
The team let victory slip through their fingers by making careless mistakes in the final minute.
Used to emphasize that the number of people or things is very small.
屈指可數
Maya could count her close friends on the fingers of one hand.
How many times have you been late? I can count them on one hand.
To be clumsy with your hands, often dropping things or having difficulty handling objects.
笨手笨腳
Brian was all thumbs when he tried to wrap the gift.
Why am I so all thumbs today? I keep dropping my tools.
To suffer negative consequences from doing something risky without considering the potential problems.
因冒險而吃虧
Sara got her fingers burnt when she invested in that failing company.
He burned his fingers by lending money to a dishonest friend.
finger in the air
idiomDescribes an estimate or method that is not precise or scientific, but based on guesswork.
憑感覺的估算
The budget was just a finger in the air calculation.
Is this plan based on data or a finger in the air guess?
Used when someone is accused or suspected of being responsible for something wrong.
指責/懷疑的矛頭
The finger of blame pointed at the manager after the project failed.
Why does the finger of suspicion always fall on the new employee?
A rude way to tell someone to start working harder or make more effort.
趕快行動
If you want to finish on time, you'd better pull your finger out.
Come on, get your finger out and help me clean the garage.
To be involved in many different activities, often in a way that others find annoying.
事事插手
Diego has a finger in every pie at the community center.
She always has a finger in every pie, from the school board to the gardening club.
To stay informed about the latest developments in a particular area.
掌握最新動態
A good journalist keeps her finger on the pulse of current events.
Min has his finger on the pulse of the tech industry.
To steal money from your workplace.
監守自盜
The accountant was caught with his fingers in the till.
She had her fingers in the till for years before anyone noticed.
have sticky fingers
idiomTo have a tendency to steal things.
手腳不乾淨
The new assistant has sticky fingers; things keep disappearing.
Be careful with your wallet around him; he has sticky fingers.
To touch someone with the intent to harm them physically.
動一根手指頭
If you lay a finger on my sister, I'll call the police.
He swore he never laid a finger on the child.
To fail to take advantage of an opportunity.
錯失機會
Don't let this scholarship opportunity slip through your fingers.
She let the chance to study abroad slip through her fingers.
To make no effort to help someone.
袖手旁觀
My brother never lifts a finger to help with the dishes.
When I needed help, she didn't raise a finger.
To accuse someone of doing something wrong.
指責
The report pointed the finger at the company's CEO.
Why are you pointing the finger at me? I didn't break the vase.
To (not) be able to identify exactly what is wrong or different about a situation.
確切指出
There's something strange about this room, but I can't put my finger on it.
You've put your finger on the problem: we need better communication.
To make a rude gesture with two fingers to show anger or disrespect.
比中指（侮辱手勢）
The driver stuck two fingers up at the cyclist who cut him off.
She put two fingers up at the rule and did what she wanted.
finger — 動詞
- fingerpresent simple I / you / we / they
- fingers3rd person singular
- fingering-ing form
- fingeredpast simple
1. To run your fingers over or against the surface of something, often to examine h
觸摸
用手指觸碰或撫摸
To run your fingers over or against the surface of something, often to examine how it feels, to check its condition, or to handle it nervously.
The potter fingered the wet clay gently, searching for any small cracks.
陶藝師傅用手指輕輕撫摸濕黏土，檢查是否有裂縫。
finger + material to check condition
Hassan fingered the rough stone wall, wondering how old the building was.
Hassan 用手指摸索著粗糙的石牆，想知道這棟建築物有多古老。
Léa fingered the soft silk fabric of the dress, impressed by its quality.
Léa 用手指撫摸那件洋裝的柔軟絲綢布料，對它的品質印象深刻。
finger + fabric to feel texture
Élise fingered the edge of the letter in her pocket, too nervous to read it.
Élise 用手指摸著口袋裡那封信的邊緣，緊張得不敢打開來看。
The old man fingered the worn photographs with surprising tenderness.
那位老人以令人意外的溫柔，用手指觸摸那些泛黃的照片。
- finger the fabric
- finger the edge of
文法句型
finger + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense describes a hand motion that is often slow, gentle, or thoughtful. It is different from grab, hold, or squeeze, which suggest more force.
常見錯誤
2. To inform the authorities, especially the police, that a specific individual has
指認
向警方指認某人有罪
To inform the authorities, especially the police, that a specific individual has committed an illegal act and should be held responsible.
The witness fingered the driver as the person who had caused the accident.
目擊者指認那名駕駛就是造成車禍的人。
pattern: finger + person + as + noun
No one in the group wanted to be fingered for leaking the secret plan.
小組中沒有人想被指認為洩漏秘密計畫的人。
passive: be fingered for + noun
Sirin was afraid that her brother would finger her for the missing money.
Sirin 擔心哥哥會指認她拿了那筆不見的錢。
The police report fingered two men from the neighbourhood as the main suspects.
警方的報告指認社區裡的兩名男子為主要嫌疑人。
- finger a suspect
- finger the culprit
- fingered for a crime
文法句型
finger + person + as + noun phrase
finger + person + for + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used in crime reports, police procedurals, and informal contexts. More formal alternatives are identify, accuse, or name as a suspect.
常見錯誤
3. To press the keys, strings, or holes of a musical instrument using a specific ar
彈奏
用手指按壓樂器以彈奏音符
To press the keys, strings, or holes of a musical instrument using a specific arrangement of the digits so that the correct notes sound.
The pianist fingered the opening chords of the sonata with great care.
鋼琴家小心翼翼地彈奏奏鳴曲的開場和弦。
finger + chords / notes on an instrument
The guitar teacher showed Tara how to finger the notes for the new song.
吉他老師教 Tara 如何用手指按出那首新歌的音符。
To play this piece smoothly, you must finger each key at the right speed.
要流暢地彈奏這首曲子，你必須以正確的速度按壓每個琴鍵。
The violinist fingered the strings carefully while reading the sheet music in front of her.
小提琴手一邊仔細按弦，一邊閱讀面前的樂譜。
finger + strings (string instruments)
- finger the keys
- finger the strings
- finger a chord
文法句型
finger + noun (instrument / notes / chords)
finger a piece of music
用法筆記
Music teachers and advanced players use this sense frequently. The related noun fingering refers to the specific pattern of finger positions for playing a passage.
同根字
- fingered形容詞B2
- fingering名詞C1
- fingerprint名詞B1
- fingertip名詞B1
- fingernail名詞A2
- forefinger名詞B1