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3. put the finger on

put the finger on

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put the finger on someone

 and lay the finger on someone

Sl. to accuse someone; to identify someone as the one who did something. Tom put the finger on John, and John is really mad. He'd better not lay the finger on me. I didn't do it.

See also: finger, on, put

put the finger on somebody

  (very informal)

to tell someone in authority, especially the police, that someone has committed a crime If Big Joe finds out you put the finger on him, you won't live long enough to spend the reward money.

See also: finger, on, put

put the finger on

Inform on, as in The witness put the finger on the defendant. [Slang; c. 1920] Also see put one's finger on.

See also: finger, on, put

put the finger on

Slang

To inform on: The witness put the finger on the killer.

See also: finger, on, put