lift a finger

einen Finger rühren, sich bemühen

Auch nur die kleinste Mühe aufbringen, um zu helfen oder etwas zu tun; meist in verneinten Sätzen.

In einfachem Englisch: To make even a small effort to help or do something, usually used with a negative.

• He never lifts a finger to help.
• I did all the cooking, and nobody lifted a finger.
• You expect the house cleaned without lifting a finger yourself?

So benutzt man es: not lift a finger to do something (He did not lift a finger to help us.); without lifting a finger (She got everything done without lifting a finger.)

Synonyme: make an effort, help

Häufige Wendungen: lift a finger, never lift a finger

einen Finger heben

Einen Finger nach oben bewegen.

In einfachem Englisch: To move one finger upward.

• Lift a finger if you can hear me.
• She lifted a finger to point at the mark.
• Can you lift a finger without moving your hand?

Synonyme: raise a finger

Häufige Wendungen: lift a finger, lift a finger slowly

gegen jemanden vorgehen, sich zur Wehr setzen

Handeln, um jemanden zu bestrafen oder sich zu wehren, statt sich nur zu beschweren.

In einfachem Englisch: To take action to punish someone or fight back, rather than only complain.

• They complained but never lifted a finger against him.
• The authorities would not lift a finger to punish the attackers.
• Will voters lift a finger against such unfair treatment?

So benutzt man es: lift a finger against someone/something (Nobody dared lift a finger against the cruel ruler.)

Synonyme: take action, retaliate

Häufige Wendungen: lift a finger, lift a finger against