COMMON If you have your finger on the pulse, you know all the latest information about something or understand it very well. She had her finger on the pulse of the consumer-led Eighties generation. Note: You can also say that someone keeps their finger on the pulse if they make an effort to stay aware of new developments. It's important to keep your finger on the pulse by reading all the right magazines and newspapers. Note: People sometimes say that someone has their finger on the button. Hart is a businessman with his finger on the button. Note: Someone's pulse is the speed and force with which their blood vessels expand and contract as their heart beats. A doctor might feel a patient's pulse by pressing a finger lightly against the large artery in their wrist.