Dictionary

finger-pointing en · NOUN · etymology 1

Etymology

From finger + pointing.

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) The act of pointing a finger or fingers.
   • Colleagues complained that Mr Raab’s “physical gestures” were used in a threatening way. Loud banging on tables and finger-pointing were among the allegations. 2023 April 22, Nina Lloyd, “Allegations against Dominic Raab that sent him to backbenches”, in The Independent, London: Independent News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 22 Apr 2023:
   • Dr. [Kirsty] Graham argues that the recruitment view offers new ideas about why apes struggle to recognize gestures that are easy for us to understand, such as finger-pointing. 2024 September 6, Carl Zimmer, “Why Do Apes Make Gestures?”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 07 Sep 2024:
   • Fortunately, more often, these authorial throat-clearings and finger-pointings enrich the text. Even the sample quoted above moves on to a vivid evocation of the very physical aspects of a hunt. Perhaps surprisingly for a writer so easily caricatured as a dry Marxist theoretician, Berger excels in such sensual descriptions. 2008 January 9, Sam Jordison, “Looking back at the Booker: John Berger”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 06 Oct 2014:
2. (figuratively, informal, uncountable, usually) The making of accusations; the assigning of blame.
   • A huge amount of material on this matter has come into public view: allegations and leaks, backgrounders and briefings, statements and press conferences, sidesteppings and finger-pointings. 1986 November 20, “At the White House”, in The Washington Post, Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 17 Jul 2025:
   • Relentless were the accusatory finger-pointings. 1995 December 20, Jack Valenti, “What Do ‘Money Train’ Critics Say Now?”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, published 24 December 1995, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 26 May 2015:
   • With the folding in November of Los Angeles Opera Theater came the expected finger-pointings and second-guessings among company officials. 1986 January 19, Marc Shulgold, “Women Composers Aim for the Mainstream”, in Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles Times Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 11 Oct 2024:

Forms

Relateds

finger point · he said, she said · blame game · finger-point · finger-pointy

finger-pointing en · VERB · etymology 2

Etymology

From finger-point + -ing.

Meanings

1. (form-of, gerund, participle, present) present participle and gerund of finger-point
   form of finger-point