finger on the trigger
4
6.3
- idiom
- Informal
:
listo para actuar
- Harry again rested his finger on the trigger of the revolver as they searched slowly along the treeline.
- put your finger on the trigger
- keep your finger on the trigger
- tightened her finger on the trigger
And there was a time where he had his finger on the trigger just once.
- And there was a time where he had his finger on the trigger just once.
Examples
-
I know you've got your finger on the trigger.
-
Ray hesitates, his finger on the trigger.
Fiction book (1998) -
Everybody aim, when I say shoot, keep your finger on the trigger.
-
I still got my finger on the trigger.
-
Ok, now breathe slowly, and when you're ready put your finger on the trigger.
-
So keep your shotguns on, your fingers on the triggers, and be ready to fire at a moment's notice!
Fiction book (1994) -
His shirt sleeves are unbuttoned, and he holds the shotgun in both hands across his heavy thighs, finger on the trigger.
Fiction book (1995) -
The team was always ready for challenges, with their finger on the trigger for any opportunity that arose.
-
In the fast-paced world of trading, you need to keep your finger on the trigger to seize profitable deals.
-
As tensions rose in the negotiations, the diplomats had their finger on the trigger, prepared to act at any moment.
Synonyms
7
3.0
Fully prepared and available to begin or help right away
6
4.4
Ready and alert to notice danger or problems
4
8.1
To act quickly and strongly to win when you see a chance
4
5.2
Able to think and answer quickly in surprising or difficult situations
2
5.6
Able to respond quickly under pressure
1
2.3
The state of being prepared to act immediately
1
6.3
To stay alert and ready for anything that might happen
1
5.4
Fast to act or respond at the start of a situation
Prepared and alert to act immediately
You are ready and alert to act quickly
Antonyms
How Ready
- Offensive
16
8.2
- Informal
4
6.3
1
2.3
73
3.2
69
2.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase literally describes a finger positioned on a gun's trigger (finger + on + trigger), so a learner who knows the words can reasonably infer the immediate, ready-to-fire sense. However, its frequent use as a general metaphor for being 'ready to act' requires real-world knowledge of how triggers work and a metaphorical extension, making the mapping only partly predictable to B1 learners.
Etymology
The phrase finger on the trigger comes from the image of someone with their finger resting on a gun's trigger, ready to fire. So it means being 'ready to act at once' when something happens.