Phrase guide

put one's finger on

verb · 1 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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1

verb

Meaning 1

To identify, specify, name or pick out.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • There’s something wrong, but I can’t put my finger on it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 指出 (zhǐchū) — identify
  • Chinese Mandarin: 点明 (diǎnmíng) — identify
  • Finnish: osoittaa sormella — identify
  • French: mettre le doigt sur — identify
  • French: identifier — identify
  • German: identifizieren — identify
  • German: erkennen — identify
  • Polish: wskazywać palcem — identify
  • Polish: wskazać palcem — identify
  • Polish: precyzować — identify
  • Polish: sprecyzować — identify
  • Polish: identyfikować — identify
  • Russian: показывать пальцем (pokazyvatʹ palʹcem) — identify
  • Spanish: señalar — identify
  • Swedish: sätta fingret på — identify