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Where does the phrase "to pull your finger out" meaning to get a move on, originate from? Pull your finger out of what?

By - AJ - Asked Jul 10 2007 4:52AM
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Top Answer out of 4

by VSPrasad on Sep 19, 2007 at 7:02 am Permalink

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This answer was last edited on: Feb 8, 2008
This is WW2 RAF slang and means nothing in particular while sounding satisfyingly vulgar. It was originally used thus - 'Pull your fingers out chaps, officers approaching!' as a warning to slacking ground crews.

'Pull your finger out and get stuck in', and that it referred to courting couples.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/.../...53,-26685,00.html

To hurry, to get a move on -

During the times of the Men'o'War, when a cannon was loaded, a small amount of powder was poured into the ignition hole near the base of the weapon. In order to keep the powder secure before firing, a crew member pushed one of their fingers into the hole. When the time came for ignition, the crewman was told to pull his finger out.

http://www.joe-ks.com/phrases/phrasesP.htm

Another way of saying, "Have a go!!"

The referee was having a shocker. Someone in the crowd yelled out, "Pull your finger out."

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php

If someone tells you to do this, they want you to hurry up. ('Get your finger out' is also used.)

http://www.usingenglish.com/.../...+finger+out!.html

get/pull your finger out (British & Australian, very informal)

if you tell someone to get their finger out, you mean they should start working hard.

"You'd better pull your finger out, you should have finished this job hours ago."

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/get%2Fpull+finger+out

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp

"take (or pull or get) your finger out":

According to "A Dictionary of Catch Phrases American and British," by Eric Partridge, revised by Paul Beale, "take (or pull or get) your finger out" originated about 1930 in the Royal Air Force and was adopted in 1941 or 1942 by the British army. The first edition of Partridge's book had the meaning as "Stop scratching your backside and get on with the job." The revised edition, having been enriched by further scholarship, offers a different meaning as the accurate one. It has to do with couples rather than individuals.

To pull your finger out is to hurry, to get a move on. This is another nautical saying and comes from the times of the Men'o'War. When the cannon were loaded a small amount of powder was poured into the ignition hole near the base of the weapon. In order to keep the powder secure before firing, a crew member pushed a finger into the hole. When the time came for ignition, the crewman was told to pull his finger out

http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/8/messages/178.html
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Answer 2 out of 4

by singwell-is off researching a lot on Jul 10, 2007 at 5:04 am Permalink

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I think it is out of your rear end.
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Avatar - AJ - Jul, 10 2007 at 05:07 AM
really?? Why would having your finger up your bum be associated with dawdling and not getting a move on? hmmm!
Avatar singwell-is off researching a lot Jul, 10 2007 at 05:32 AM
I don't suppose you move very fast in that position. LOL
Avatar - AJ - Jul, 10 2007 at 05:33 AM
hahah!

Answer 3 out of 4

by Squelch on Feb 8, 2008 at 5:15 am Permalink

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It is generally accepted that the full phrase is Pull your finger out (of your arse) and get a move on!

Many slang phrases like this imply some rude undertone in order to make the point.

Esoteric theories about canon may have some attraction to psuedo-intellectuals, but the reality is that the vast majority of the population accept its rude, arsehole, context.
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Answer 4 out of 4

by Mr n Mrs M... on Jul 10, 2007 at 4:57 am Permalink

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I think it comes from the old 'instead of standing there with your finger up your butt, Do some work!' now shortened to ' pull your finger out...
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