finger-pointing

Noun

finger-pointing (usually uncountable, plural finger-pointings)

1. (usually) The act of pointing a finger or fingers.
   • 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...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...
   • 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...
2. (figuratively, informal, usually) The making of accusations; the assigning of blame.
   • 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...
   • 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