To burn one's fingers

To burn one's fingers
Finger Fin"ger (f[i^][ng]"g[~e]r), n. [AS. finger; akin to D. vinger, OS. & OHG. fingar, G. finger, Icel. fingr, Sw. & Dan. finger, Goth. figgrs; of unknown origin; perh. akin to E. fang.] 1. One of the five terminating members of the hand; a digit; esp., one of the four extremities of the hand, other than the thumb. [1913 Webster]

2. Anything that does the work of a finger; as, the pointer of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; especially (Mech.) a small projecting rod, wire, or piece, which is brought into contact with an object to effect, direct, or restrain a motion. [1913 Webster]

3. The breadth of a finger, or the fourth part of the hand; a measure of nearly an inch; also, the length of finger, a measure in domestic use in the United States, of about four and a half inches or one eighth of a yard. [1913 Webster]

A piece of steel three fingers thick. --Bp. Wilkins. [1913 Webster]

4. Skill in the use of the fingers, as in playing upon a musical instrument. [R.] [1913 Webster]

She has a good finger. --Busby. [1913 Webster]

{Ear finger}, the little finger.

{Finger alphabet}. See {Dactylology}.

{Finger bar}, the horizontal bar, carrying slotted spikes, or fingers, through which the vibratory knives of mowing and reaping machines play.

{Finger board} (Mus.), the part of a stringed instrument against which the fingers press the strings to vary the tone; the keyboard of a piano, organ, etc.; manual.

{Finger bowl} {Finger glass}, a bowl or glass to hold water for rinsing the fingers at table.

{Finger flower} (Bot.), the foxglove.

{Finger grass} (Bot.), a kind of grass ({Panicum sanguinale}) with slender radiating spikes; common crab grass. See {Crab grass}, under {Crab}.

{Finger nut}, a fly nut or thumb nut.

{Finger plate}, a strip of metal, glass, etc., to protect a painted or polished door from finger marks.

{Finger post}, a guide post bearing an index finger.

{Finger reading}, reading printed in relief so as to be sensible to the touch; -- so made for the blind.

{Finger shell} (Zo["o]l.), a marine shell ({Pholas dactylus}) resembling a finger in form.

{Finger sponge} (Zo["o]l.), a sponge having finger-shaped lobes, or branches.

{Finger stall}, a cover or shield for a finger.

{Finger steel}, a steel instrument for whetting a currier's knife. [1913 Webster]

{To burn one's fingers}. See under {Burn}.

{To have a finger in}, to be concerned in. [Colloq.]

{To have at one's fingers' ends}, to be thoroughly familiar with. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • burn one's fingers — ► burn one s fingers suffer unpleasant consequences as a result of one s actions. Main Entry: ↑finger …   English terms dictionary

  • burn one's fingers — idi burn one s fingers, to suffer injury or loss by meddling or by acting rashly …   From formal English to slang

  • To burn one's fingers — Burn Burn (b[^u]rn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Burned} (b[^u]rnd) or {Burnt} (b[^u]rnt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Burning}.] [OE. bernen, brennen, v. t., early confused with beornen, birnen, v. i., AS. b[ae]rnan, bernan, v. t., birnan, v. i.; akin to OS.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • get one's fingers burned (or burnt) (or burn one's fingers) — suffer unpleasant consequences as a result of one s actions. → finger …   English new terms dictionary

  • burn one's fingers — {v. phr.}, {informal} To get in trouble doing something and fear to do it again; learn caution through an unpleasant experience. * /He had burned his fingers in the stock market once, and didn t want to try again./ * /Some people can t be told;… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • burn one's fingers — {v. phr.}, {informal} To get in trouble doing something and fear to do it again; learn caution through an unpleasant experience. * /He had burned his fingers in the stock market once, and didn t want to try again./ * /Some people can t be told;… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • burn\ one's\ fingers — v. phr. informal To get in trouble doing something and fear to do it again; learn caution through an unpleasant experience. He had burned his fingers in the stock market once, and didn t want to try again. Some people can t be told; they have to… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • burn one's fingers — verb to harm oneself; to suffer consequences of ones actions. He burned his fingers in the stock market and has been timid about investing ever since …   Wiktionary

  • burn one's fingers — Get one s self into trouble (as by meddling in the affairs of others, or by speculation), smart for it, get scorched …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • burn one's fingers —  Injure oneself by meddling. Incur unexpected financial loss …   A concise dictionary of English slang

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