sticky fingers
C1Informal
Definition
Meaning
A tendency to steal things.
Informal idiom describing a person who habitually pilfers items, often small, or more generally, a person who is unable to resist taking things that do not belong to them.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost exclusively used in its plural form 'sticky fingers'. It refers to the characteristic or person possessing it, not the act of stealing itself. Often used humorously or euphemistically.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The idiom is identical in form and core meaning in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries a euphemistic, slightly humorous, or gently accusatory tone, less harsh than direct terms like 'thief'.
Frequency
Similar moderate frequency in both dialects; perhaps slightly more common in British English due to a greater use of understatement and euphemism.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] has sticky fingers.Watch out for [Person] - they've got sticky fingers.It's best not to leave your wallet around someone with sticky fingers.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's got sticky fingers.”
- “Watch your purse around her—sticky fingers.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"We had to let the stockroom assistant go; turns out he had sticky fingers." (Referring to internal theft.)
Academic
Rarely used in formal academic writing, except perhaps in sociological studies on deviant behavior using informal interview data.
Everyday
"Don't leave your phone on the table at the pub—you know Dave's got sticky fingers."
Technical
Not used in technical legal or criminological contexts, where precise terms like 'larceny' or 'petty theft' are preferred.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A - not used as a verb.
American English
- N/A - not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A - not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A - not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A - the phrase itself is a nominal idiom, not an adjective. The related adjective is 'light-fingered'.
American English
- N/A - the phrase itself is a nominal idiom, not an adjective. The related adjective is 'light-fingered'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Be careful. Tom has sticky fingers.
- She took my pen. She has sticky fingers.
- You shouldn't leave money out if your new flatmate has sticky fingers.
- The manager suspected the cashier had sticky fingers because the till was always short.
- Despite his charming demeanour, he was notorious for having sticky fingers around the office.
- The jewellery shop installed more cameras to deter customers with sticky fingers.
- The audit revealed significant inventory shrinkage, leading to the discovery that a senior clerk had had sticky fingers for years.
- Her reputation for sticky fingers meant she was never entrusted with the petty cash, despite her seniority.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone's fingers are coated in glue (sticky), so whenever they touch something, it sticks to them and they can't let go—just like a thief can't resist taking things.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISHONESTY IS A PHYSICAL PROPERTY (stickiness). The abstract trait of thievery is conceptualized as a tangible, adhesive quality of the hands.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'липкие пальцы'. This is nonsensical.
- Avoid using 'вороватые руки' as it is a direct calque and sounds unnatural. The correct equivalent is the idiom 'лёгкая рука' (literally 'light hand'), or descriptive phrases like 'он/она нечист на руку' or 'ворует по мелочи'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a singular noun: 'a sticky finger' is incorrect.
- Using it to describe a single act: 'He committed a sticky fingers yesterday.' is wrong. It describes a habitual tendency.
- Confusing it with the literal meaning (fingers covered in a sticky substance).
Practice
Quiz
What does it mean if someone 'has sticky fingers'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is exclusively negative, referring to dishonesty and theft.
It is distinctly informal and euphemistic. Formal contexts would use terms like 'thief', 'shoplifter', or 'guilty of pilfering'.
No. 'Sticky fingers' implies a habitual tendency or reputation, not a single isolated incident.
There isn't a direct adjective form of 'sticky fingers'. The standard adjective with the same meaning is 'light-fingered'.