T-learning # Idiom
Speak Like a Native

to have a finger in the pie

Choose the correct definition a, b or c.

a) to be clumsy in your actions

Sorry, wrong answer. Please try again.

b) to disclose a secret

Sorry, wrong answer. Please try again.

c) to have an interest in something

Well done ! That’s the right answer.

to have a finger in the pie’ means to be involved, have an interest in or meddle in something, sometimes in an interfering way.
Another form of this idiom is ’to have a finger in every pie’, meaning to have an interest in or be involved in everything.

French translation

jouer un rôle, participer, être impliqué, se mêler

...................................................

Examples in context

’I met the patient [who received Hu’s kidney] in the hospital office, he told me he paid 300,000 yuan. Most of his money was divided between these agents. The doctors had a finger in the pie too.’

guardian.co.uk, 27 May 2012

............

’A second point is that Apple is putting their finger in the pie of most of the software that you mention. Yes, you can sell music from your app that is available in the App Store, but Apple still gets their share of the profit from the music.’

Zdnet.com, 31 May 2012

...................................................

Everyday usage

Tess wants to have a finger in the pie. She doesn’t think we can do it by ourselves.

Everyone around here now seems to have a finger in every pie.


Missed last week’s phrase ? Catch up here