Dictionary

finger-wag en · NOUN

Etymology

From finger + wag.

Meanings

1. The movement of the index finger horizontally back and forth, as to say no or reject something.
2. The movement of the index finger repeatedly up and down, as to threaten or reprimand someone.

Forms

finger-wag en · VERB

Etymology

From finger + wag.

Meanings

1. To move the index finger horizontally back and forth, as to say no or reject something.
2. To move the index finger repeatedly up and down, as to threaten or reprimand someone.
   • For these and other reasons, I disagree with reecent critiques of the film, such as Matt Novak's finger-wagging thinkpiece, "Idiocracy Is a Cruel Movie and You Should Be Ashamed for Liking It." (2014) 2018, Nicole Seymour, Bad Environmentalism, page 246:

Forms

Deriveds

finger-wagging

Translations (14)

pt balançar o dedo (to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something) · nl met de vinger dreigen (to move the index finger vertically, as to threaten or reprimand someone) · nl vingerschudden (to move the index finger vertically, as to threaten or reprimand someone) · es menear del dedo (to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something) · de mit dem Finger drohen (to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something) · ru грози́ть па́льцем (to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something) · sl požugati s prstom (to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something) · ba бармаҡ янау (to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something) · fr faire non du doigt (to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something) · ru погрози́ть па́льцем (to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something) · fi osoittaa etusormella (to move the index finger vertically, as to threaten or reprimand someone) · de mit dem Finger drohen (to move the index finger vertically, as to threaten or reprimand someone) · nl vingerschudden (to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something) · fi heristää etusormea (to move the index finger horizontally, as to say no or reject something)