ENGLISH
REFERENCE

green fingers

idiom
Meaning

A seemingly natural gardening ability.


Origin

disputed origin

PIE word *pénkʷe From green (adjective) + fingers, possibly popularized by the British gardener and radio and television broadcaster Cecil Henry Middleton (1886–1945).

Examples
SIMPLE

She has green fingers and grows beautiful roses.

CONTEXTUAL

My grandmother has green fingers — everything she plants seems to thrive.

COMPLEX

Though he had never studied horticulture, the young tenant displayed such green fingers that the neglected estate garden flourished within a single season.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all fingers and thumbs

    Of a person, clumsy or awkward.

  2. 02

    burn one's fingers

    To harm oneself; to suffer consequences of one's actions.

  3. 03

    Chinese green

    Synonym of lokao.

  4. 04

    get one's fingers burnt

    To suffer relatively minor, adversive, and unexpected harm.

  5. 05

    go green

    To implement certain lifestyle changes designed to help one live in a more ecologically friendly way.

  6. 06

    God's green earth

    The world.

  7. 07

    green about the gills

    Ill or unwell, especially as indicated by one's appearance.

  8. 08

    green as grass

    Inexperienced or naive.

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