not lift a finger

1. Refuse to exert oneself to help or perform an action. For example, Dad won't lift a finger to help them financially, or Early in the war, America officially would not lift a finger. [Mid-1900s]

Example Sentences

But the Mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, could not lift a finger to help the city he was first elected to run in 2019.

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There were several people who did not lift a finger and blew off their work shifts, forcing other campers to step up and keep things running.

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I was told in clear terms that their boss would not lift a finger to support me.

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Durbin, of course, also has the power to resist that pressure and not lift a finger.

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Pechman pointed out that the officers’ lawyers, while waiting on an appeal, “did not lift a finger to engage in discovery” in the months the appeal was pending.

Read more on Seattle Times

Related Words

• loiter 
• loll 
• saunter