THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Point the finger
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
Accuse someone of being responsible for something bad.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- Let’s check the records before we point the finger at anyone.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
0 of 1 checked correctly
Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
Let’s check the records before we ________ at anyone.
Show the answer
Point the finger — Accuse someone of being responsible for something bad.
Try your own sentence (optional)
Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Point the finger” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
Accuse someone of being responsible for something bad.
Compare: Let’s check the records before we point the finger at anyone.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.
This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.
GO DEEPER
More ways to understand and use it
Jump to a section
When to use it
Use this expression about assigning blame. It often appears when people are urged to investigate a problem before accusing anyone.
More examples in context
- The manager pointed the finger at the supplier for the late delivery.
- Instead of pointing the finger, the team focused on fixing the error.
Usage note
Use “at” before the person blamed. This can describe a spoken accusation without any physical pointing. The accusation may be fair or unfair; the expression alone does not decide that.
A short conversation
A: Whose fault was the booking mistake?
B: We shouldn’t point the finger until we know what happened.
A: I’ll check the confirmation emails first.
One more practice question
What is someone doing when they point the finger at a colleague over a mistake?
A. Blaming that colleague.
B. Praising that colleague’s work.
Check your answer
A. The idiom means identifying someone as responsible for a problem.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.