five-finger: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Botanical, Slang
Quick answer
What does “five-finger” mean?
A small hand or star-shaped flower, typically having five petals or lobes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small hand or star-shaped flower, typically having five petals or lobes; also, slang for a hand.
A plant of the genus Potentilla or related species; informal term for the act of shoplifting; in informal North American use, a discount or clearance sale.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'five-finger' is primarily a botanical term. In American English, it has stronger slang connotations for theft ('five-finger discount') and sales ('five-finger sale').
Connotations
UK: Neutral/botanical. US: Often carries negative (theft) or commercial (bargain) connotations.
Frequency
The term is infrequent in both varieties. The slang phrase 'five-finger discount' is more common in AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “five-finger” in a Sentence
[Noun] + five-finger + [Noun]give [someone] the five-fingerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “five-finger” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The five-finger plant grew along the path.
American English
- He was caught in a five-finger discount scheme.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; 'five-finger sale' might be used informally for a clearance event.
Academic
Used in botany to describe Potentilla species.
Everyday
Very rare in everyday speech outside specific idioms.
Technical
Primarily botanical.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “five-finger”
- Using it as a common term for 'hand'.
- Confusing the botanical term with the slang term for theft.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare and informal. The standard word is 'hand'.
As part of the slang phrase 'five-finger discount' meaning shoplifting.
No, it is not standardly used as a verb.
Use its botanical name 'cinquefoil' or the genus name 'Potentilla'.
A small hand or star-shaped flower, typically having five petals or lobes.
Five-finger: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfʌɪv ˈfɪŋɡə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfaɪv ˈfɪŋɡər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “five-finger discount (shoplifting)”
- “five-finger exercise (piano practice)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a hand with five fingers picking a five-petaled flower (cinquefoil) or discreetly taking an item.
Conceptual Metaphor
HAND FOR ACQUISITION (the 'five-finger discount' metaphorically equates the hand with the act of taking).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'five-finger' most likely to have a negative connotation?