lifting a finger

Verb

lift a finger (third-person singular simple present lifts a finger, present participle lifting a finger, simple past and past participle lifted a finger)

1. (figuratively) To make minimal effort; to help as little as possible.
   • She lets me do all the work and never lifts a finger to help.

   Synonyms:

   move a finger, raise a finger, stir a finger

2. (figuratively) To take actual retaliatory or punitive action, as opposed to just complaining.
   • I think living conditions need to get a lot worse before voters start to lift a finger.
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lift, finger.
   • So if your next note involves lifting a finger, you need to plan to lift the finger promptly to above its spot on the string so that it's ready to play again at any time.2010, Katharine Rapoport, Violin For Dummies