Standard Lemma guide

finger-wag

noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The movement of the index finger horizontally back and forth, as to say no or reject something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The movement of the index finger repeatedly up and down, as to threaten or reprimand someone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To move the index finger horizontally back and forth, as to say no or reject something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To move the index finger repeatedly up and down, as to threaten or reprimand someone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From finger + wag.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bashkir: бармаҡ янау (barmaq yanaw) — to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something
  • Dutch: vingerschudden — to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something
  • Finnish: heristää etusormea — to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something
  • French: faire non du doigt — to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something
  • German: mit dem Finger drohen — to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something
  • Portuguese: balançar o dedo — to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something
  • Russian: грози́ть па́льцем (grozítʹ pálʹcem) — to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something
  • Russian: погрози́ть па́льцем (pogrozítʹ pálʹcem) — to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something
  • Slovene: požugati s prstom — to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something
  • Spanish: menear del dedo — to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something
  • Dutch: vingerschudden — to move the index finger vertically, as to threaten or reprimand someone
  • Dutch: met de vinger dreigen — to move the index finger vertically, as to threaten or reprimand someone
  • Finnish: osoittaa etusormella — to move the index finger vertically, as to threaten or reprimand someone
  • German: mit dem Finger drohen — to move the index finger vertically, as to threaten or reprimand someone