lay a finger on

Meaning

1. Oxford67% of films

   to touch sb with the intention of hurting them physically

   or even just lays a finger on you, what are you gonna do?

   If I learn you ever once laid a finger on my mother's body, living or dead, I swear to God,

In the movies · 3

• or even just lays a finger on you, what are you gonna do?What's Eating Gilbert Grape1993
• If I learn you ever once laid a finger on my mother's body, living or dead, I swear to God,The Grand Budapest Hotel2014
• And I swear to you, I never laid a finger on her.Amadeus1984
• If you so much as lay a finger on them, I'll kill you.Saw2004
• If you lay one finger on her...Spider-Man 22004
• Is it? You notice they're not laying a finger on her land.Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte1964
• You so much as lay one finger on anyone inside that hall, and so help me God, I'll break your bloody arms and legs for you.Pride2014
• Mrs. Hammond said she once felt the ghost of a murdered child creep up behind her and lay its icy fingers on her hand.Anne of Green Gables1985

Learn it in full scenes

• Amadeus1984
  • Salieri Begins His Confession
  • Salieri Recalls His Answered Vow
  • Mozart's Backwards Proposal

From the same entry

• the finger of suspicion
• get, pull, your finger out
• give the finger
• have a finger in every pie
• have, your fingers in the till
• have your finger on the pulse
• not put your finger on
• put two fingers up at
• work your fingers to the bone
• burn your fingers
• be able to count on one hand
• cross your fingers

More idioms

• lose your cool
• not far off
• play by the rules
• pull the wool over eyes
• put the record straight
• roll up your sleeves
• sooner rather than later
• take a shine to
• you could have fooled me
• on air
• one or two
• you wait