put one's finger on

1. Identify, as in I can't put my finger on the man in that photo . [Late 1800s]

2. See lay a finger on .

Idioms and Phrases

Also, lay one's finger on .

Example Sentences

It’s hard to put one’s finger on the cultural significance of Carlson’s conniption or Mars Wrigley’s retreat.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s hard to put one’s finger on it exactly.

From Science Magazine

One can’t quite put one’s finger on the changes: nothing radical or vulgar you understand, just aggressive tweaking: new carpeting, upholstery, lighting and fabrics.

From New York Times

But in a way that was a little hard to put one’s finger on, something felt a little off.

From Los Angeles Times

Posner is trying something different, it seems, with his latest Shakespeare production for the Folger, “The Winter’s Tale,” and what that constitutes is hard to put one’s finger on — and harder to like.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• analyze
• classify
• describe
• determine
• diagnose
• establish
• find
• name
• pinpoint
• select
• single out
• spot