accusatory finger

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "accusatory finger" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a gesture or expression that indicates blame or accusation towards someone. Example: "During the meeting, she pointed an accusatory finger at her colleague, blaming him for the project's failure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

He again uses the accusatory finger.

The New York Times

"He's pointing the accusatory finger in all of his poems.

The Guardian - Music

On Tuesday, intelligence officials in Kabul jabbed yet another accusatory finger toward Pakistan.

The New York Times

"Disgusting mouth!" shouted Yisroel, pointing an accusatory finger at me with his left hand.

The New Yorker

He narrows his eyes and wags an accusatory finger at me. "Talk about marbles.

The Guardian - Film

Of course, it is hard for Ms. Dwyer, who is 79, to point an accusatory finger.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

Many recent books have pointed accusatory fingers at the problems of specific firms like Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers and Fannie Mae, and of certain executives.

The New York Times

No accusatory fingers were pointed at Davis, but his mother was not about to wait for the Salt Lake snows to bury the mud.

The New York Times - Sports

In the same year, a national newspaper, Kangura, printed a large cover picture of a machete with the slogan "What Weapons Shall We Use To Conquer The Inyenzi Once And For All?" Accusatory fingers were quickly pointed at the media for their role in the ethnic flashpoints of the early 1990s, but the legal response of the international community was flat-footed.

The Guardian

If I'm pointing accusatory fingers at anyone I'm pointing them at myself.

TechCrunch

That calm has now been shattered in a devastating, direct manner and most people are pointing their accusatory fingers in one direction - directly east at the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "accusatory finger" to vividly portray a specific instance of blame. It's more impactful than simply stating someone is blamed.

Common error

While descriptive, "accusatory finger" can become a cliché. Vary your language by using synonyms or describing the act of blaming in different terms.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "accusatory finger" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as the object of a verb (e.g., "pointing," "wagging"). Ludwig examples illustrate its role in describing a gesture that conveys blame.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

HuffPost

7%

The New Yorker

4%

Less common in

Wikipedia

1%

EU Parlament

1%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "accusatory finger" is a common and grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe the act of blaming someone. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s appropriate in various contexts, but primarily found in News & Media. To avoid overuse, consider alternatives like "finger of blame" or "pointing the blame". Remember that while impactful, overusing the phrase can dilute its effect. This expression serves to emphasize and vividly portray the act of assigning fault or responsibility, and is considered appropriate for neutral registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

finger of blame

Replaces "accusatory" with "of blame", focusing on the blame itself.

pointing the blame

Focuses on the action of directing blame, removing the specific imagery.

assigning blame

Shifts from a physical gesture to the act of attributing responsibility.

leveling accusations

Replaces the physical gesture with the verbal act of accusing.

attributing fault

Focuses on identifying who is at fault, a more formal expression.

casting aspersions

Emphasizes the negative impact of the accusation, suggesting defamation.

placing the responsibility

Highlights where the onus lies, removing any sense of accusation.

implicating someone

Suggests involvement in something negative without direct accusation.

holding accountable

Focuses on demanding responsibility for actions.

denouncing actions

Publicly condemning actions without necessarily assigning specific blame.

FAQs

How can I use "accusatory finger" in a sentence?

You can use "accusatory finger" to describe the act of blaming someone, like: "He pointed an "accusatory finger" at his brother for breaking the vase."

What are some alternatives to saying "accusatory finger"?

You can use alternatives such as "finger of blame", "pointing the blame", or "assigning blame" to express a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "pointing an accusatory finger at someone"?

Yes, the phrase "pointing an "accusatory finger" at someone" is grammatically correct and widely used to describe the act of blaming.

What is the difference between "accusatory finger" and "finger-pointing"?

"Accusatory finger" is a more specific gesture, while "finger-pointing" refers to the general act of blaming without specifying a physical action. Finger-pointing is also more suitable to be used with the word game such as "blame game".