fingertips

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fingertips" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the tips of one's fingers, often in contexts related to touch, dexterity, or skill. Example: "She played the piano with such grace, her fingers dancing over the keys as if they were guided by her fingertips."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That close control and sway flummoxed Liam Feeney, Pugh hammering his shot back across goal and in via the goalkeeper's fingertips, six minutes before half-time.

The Guardian - Sport

Proactive to his fingertips, Marr has met this problem by signing up with Tom Balchin and his controversial ARNI regime (the Action for Rehabilitation from Neurological Injury is a super-vigorous physio regime).

The Guardian

Schools in central London have a wealth of galleries, museums, successful companies, regular buses at their fingertips, she adds.

The Guardian

As Jonathan Eyal, of the Royal United Services Institute, puts it: "It was not the lack of sufficient knowledge about history and religion which led to the Iraqi debacle, but the lack of restraint among politicians who had all the relevant information at their fingertips".

The Guardian - Opinion

The centre-half took aim with his left foot and, though Hart managed to get a hand to the ball, it flicked off his fingertips and struck Glen Johnson's midriff on its way into the goal.

The Guardian - Sport

I am liberal to my fingertips and I'm not seeing this party die on my watch.

The Guardian

Rub the butter into the dry ingredients using your fingertips.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When Paul rubbed his fingertips over the pimples that dotted his skin, he felt spines.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Some are monkeys who dance on your fingertips.

The Guardian

As I travelled I met new terms as well as salvaging old ones: a painter in the Western Isles who used landskein to refer to the braid of blue horizon lines on a hazy day; a five-year-old girl who concocted honeyfur to describe the soft seeds of grasses pinched between fingertips.

The Guardian - Books

He is, as he says, "conservative to his fingertips".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fingertips" to describe access to information or resources, ensure the context clearly indicates ease and immediacy. This emphasizes the convenience and control one has over the available resources.

Common error

Avoid using "fingertips" solely in literal contexts when you intend to convey a sense of easy access or control. Ensure that the context allows for the figurative interpretation to be understood.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fingertips" is as a noun, typically used in the plural form. It denotes the ends of the fingers and can function as the subject or object within a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is generally correct and usable in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Lifestyle

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "fingertips" is a grammatically sound noun, commonly used both literally to refer to the ends of fingers and figuratively to describe easy access or control. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is correct and widely used. Its prevalence in news, lifestyle, and business contexts, with authoritative sources like The Guardian and The Economist, underscores its versatility and acceptance in various registers. When using "fingertips", consider whether the literal or figurative sense is most appropriate for your intended meaning, ensuring clarity and relevance in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the tip of one's fingers

A more literal alternative, emphasizing the direct control and access one has.

at hand

Indicates something readily available or easily accessible, similar to having something at one's "fingertips".

within reach

Implies that something is easily obtainable or achievable, much like something accessible at your "fingertips".

at one's disposal

Suggests that something is available for use as one pleases, like having information at your "fingertips".

close at hand

Emphasizes the nearness and accessibility of something, similar to having resources at your "fingertips".

at the ready

Highlights the preparedness and availability of something, like having information at your "fingertips" for immediate use.

within touching distance

Stresses the physical proximity and ease of access, similar to something being right at your "fingertips".

within immediate access

Highlights the speed and ease with which something can be obtained, like having data at your "fingertips".

under one's control

Focuses on the ability to manipulate or use something as desired, like having power at one's "fingertips".

at one's beck and call

Implies immediate availability and responsiveness, similar to having services at your "fingertips".

FAQs

How can I use "fingertips" in a sentence?

You can use "fingertips" to describe physical touch, such as "She felt the texture with her fingertips". It can also be used figuratively to mean easy access, as in "He had all the data at his fingertips".

What does it mean to have something at your "fingertips"?

To have something at your "fingertips" means it's readily available and easily accessible. This could refer to information, resources, or skills that you can quickly use.

What are some alternatives to saying something is at my "fingertips"?

You can use alternatives like "at hand", "within reach", or "at one's disposal" to convey a similar meaning of easy access.

Is it correct to say "at the tip of my fingers" instead of "at my fingertips"?

While "at the tip of my fingers" is grammatically correct, "at my fingertips" is the more common and idiomatic expression, particularly when referring to readily available information or resources.