lift a finger
idiom
: to make an effort to do something
—usually used in negative statements
I have so many chores to do, and my sister won't lift a finger to help me.
He never lifted a finger to try to improve his failing grades.
Examples of lift a finger in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The dawn of the AI influencer While Michael Jordan and LeBron James had to physically show up to photo shoots and appear in commercials to fulfill their brand deals with Nike, Lame doesn’t have to lift a finger to fulfill his end of the deal with Rich Sparkle.
—
Jake Angelo, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
Don’t expect to lift a finger upon arrival.
—Jennie Nunn, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
But, while many of us hope that Maduro will be forced to leave by his own military without an invasion, few countries would lift a finger to support the Venezuelan dictator.
—Miami Herald, 11 Dec. 2025
At this point, hanging out sometimes feels less like spending time with a friend and more like coordinating an event for someone who won’t lift a finger to help.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lift a finger
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Jake Angelo, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
Don’t expect to lift a finger upon arrival.
—Jennie Nunn, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
But, while many of us hope that Maduro will be forced to leave by his own military without an invasion, few countries would lift a finger to support the Venezuelan dictator.
—Miami Herald, 11 Dec. 2025
At this point, hanging out sometimes feels less like spending time with a friend and more like coordinating an event for someone who won’t lift a finger to help.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lift a finger
Cite this Entry
“Lift a finger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lift%20a%20finger. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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