point the finger at (one)
point the finger at (one)
To indicate that one is guilty of (doing) something; to blame or accuse one of (doing) something. She'll say that she doesn't blame anyone, but I know that, in her heart, she points the finger at me. Now, I'm not pointing the finger at anyone in particular, but someone here has been stealing food from the communal refrigerator.
See also: finger, point
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
point the finger at someone
Fig. to blame someone; to identify someone as the guilty person. Don't point the finger at me! I didn't take the money. The manager refused to point the finger at anyone in particular and said that everyone was sometimes guilty of being late.
See also: finger, point
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
point the finger at
Attach blame to, accuse, as in When they asked her who broke the window, she pointed the finger at Tom. Also see put the finger on.
See also: finger, point
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
point the finger at someone
COMMON If you point the finger at someone, you blame them for a mistake they have made or accuse them of doing something wrong. Nobody can point the finger at us for doing anything we shouldn't have. Note: You can also say, for example, that you point the finger of blame or the finger of suspicion at someone. It would be easy to point the finger of blame at individuals. Note: When people blame or accuse each other in this way, you can refer to this as finger-pointing. Whether or not the investigation succeeds, it is bound to lead to finger-pointing and backbiting.
See also: finger, point, someone
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
point the finger
openly accuse someone or apportion blame. 1998 Spectator Reason suggests that one should point the finger at those who whipped up the emotion in the first place.
See also: finger, point
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
point a/the ˈfinger (at somebody)
say you think somebody is responsible for something; accuse somebody of doing something: It was his wife who pointed the finger at him in the end.See also: finger, point
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- point a/the finger
- point the finger
- point the finger at
- point the finger at someone
- place the blame for (something) on (someone or something)
- place the blame on (someone or something) for (something)
- be left holding the baby
- place the blame on
- place the blame on (someone or something)
- put the blame on (someone or something)