burn one's fingers or get one's fingers burnt

To suffer as a result of interfering, speculating, etc

burn out

1. To destroy or drive out by burning
2. To burn until the fire dies down from want of fuel
3. To (cause to) break down or fail to work as a result of overheating
4. To (cause to) become ineffective through overwork, exhaustion, etc (burnˈ-out noun)

burn the candle at both ends see under candle

burn the midnight oil

To study late into the night

burn the water (Scot)

To spear salmon by torchlight

burn up

1. To consume completely by fire
2. To be burned completely
3. To increase in activity of burning
4. To make short or easy work of
5. To become or make angry (US sl)

(money) to burn

(money) in great abundance

finger /fingˈgər/

1. One of the five terminal parts of the hand, or usu of the four other than the thumb
2. Anything shaped like this
3. The part of a glove that covers such a part
4. The breadth of a person's finger, esp as a rough measure of alcoholic spirit poured into a glass
5. Touch
6. Agency (esp of God)
7. Share or interest
8. (in pl) grip or control

1. To handle or perform with the fingers
2. To pilfer
3. To toy or meddle with
4. To make or indicate choice of fingers in performing (music)
5. To indicate or identify a guilty person (slang)
6. To locate another computer user by means of a special program (informal)

To use or move the fingers

fingˈered adjective

Having fingers, or anything like fingers, or indication of fingering

fingˈering noun

1. Act or manner of touching with the fingers
2. The choice of fingers in playing a musical instrument
3. The written or printed indication of this

fingˈerless adjective

Having no, or only rudimentary or short, fingers

fingˈerling noun

1. A very diminutive being or thing (archaic)
2. A fish no bigger than a finger, esp a salmon parr or young trout less than a year old

fingˈer-alphabet noun

An alphabet for the deaf or hard of hearing

fingˈer-and-toeˈ noun

1. A disease of turnips in which the taproot branches
2. Another turnip disease, anbury

fingˈerboard noun

The part of a violin, etc against which the strings are stopped by the fingers

fingˈerbowl or fingˈerglass noun

A bowl for water to clean the fingers at table

fingˈer-breadth or fingˈers-breadth noun

The breadth of a finger, a digit, as a unit of measurement (1.4cm or 3/4 of an inch)

finger buffet noun

A buffet consisting of finger foods, food (such as sandwiches) which may be eaten with the fingers as opposed to a knife and fork

fingˈer-dry transitive verb

To style (one's hair) by running the fingers through it while it is drying

fingˈer-end or fingˈer's-end noun

fingˈer-grass noun

A grass of the genus Digitaria, with finger-like spikes

fingˈerguard noun

The crosspiece of a sword-handle

fingˈerhold noun

1. A grasp by the fingers
2. Something by which the fingers can hold on (also figurative)

fingˈerhole noun

A hole in a wind instrument closed by the finger to modify the pitch

fingˈerlickin’ adverb or adjective (slang)

(of food eaten with the fingers) extremely (good)

fingˈermark noun

A mark, esp a dirty one, made by a finger

fingˈernail noun

fingˈer-paint noun

A somewhat thick gelatinous paint used esp by children and applied with the hands and fingers rather than with a brush (also transitive verb)

fingˈer-painting noun

fingˈerpick noun

A small plectrum attached to the fingertip

transitive verb and intransitive verb

To play using fingerpicks

fingˈerplate noun

A decorative plate, usu of metal, to protect a door from dirty fingers

fingˈer-pointer noun

An accuser

fingˈer-pointing noun

fingˈerpost noun

A post with a finger pointing the way to a destination

fingˈerprint noun

1. An impression of the ridges of the fingertip, unique to each human being and used as a means of identification, esp of criminals
2. An accurate and unique identification feature or profile produced by chemical analysis, genetic analysis, etc (figurative)
3. The basic features (figurative)

transitive verb

To take the fingerprints of (also figurative)

fingˈerprinting noun (also figurative).

finger roll noun

A small thin bread roll

fingˈerstall noun

A covering for protecting a finger

fingˈertip noun

The tip of one's finger

adjective

Using the fingertips, hence delicate

finger wave noun

A wave in hair made using the fingers

a finger in the pie

A share in the doing of anything (often said of annoying meddling)

be all fingers and thumbs, have one's fingers all thumbs, etc see under thumb

burn one's fingers or get one's fingers burnt see under burn¹

cross one's fingers see under cross

get or pull the (or one's) finger out (informal)

To start working hard or doing one's job properly or efficiently

give someone (or get) the finger (chiefly N Am sl)

To make, or be the target of, an obscene gesture of contempt made by extending the middle finger vertically

have a finger in every pie

To have an involvement in many different affairs

have at one's finger-ends, finger's-ends or fingertips

To be master of (a subject)

keep one's fingers crossed see under cross

lay or put a finger on

To touch

not lift a finger

To take no action

point the finger at

To call attention to in accusation

put or lay one's finger on

To indicate, comprehend and express, or recall, precisely

put the finger on (informal)

To identify as a guilty person

snap one's fingers

To make a short loud clicking sound with the middle finger and thumb, usu to attract attention or show defiance, contempt, etc

to one's fingertips

1. Completely
2. In all respects

twist, wind or wrap someone round one's little finger

To control someone completely, or influence someone to a great extent