lay a finger on
Make any contact
To lay a finger on someone is to touch them at all, almost always used in the negative to emphasize restraint or prohibition: Don't you dare lay a finger on her, He swore he never laid a finger on the child.
The phrase implies potential harm—the "finger" represents the minimal possible contact, so denying even that asserts complete physical innocence or warns against any aggression whatsoever.
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- child abuseHarm inflicted on minors
- contactCommunication or physical touch
- bodily harmDamage to one's person
- violateBreak a rule deliberately
don't you dare · molest · handle · personal space · hurt · touch · physical contact · dare · feel · interfere · threatening · prohibit · hit · forbid · off-limits · off limits · do not touch · reach
lay a finger onleave alone
Refrain from disturbing
hands off · leave be · keep away from · protect · shield
lay a finger onleave alone
Refrain from disturbing
leave be · let be · back off · mind one's own business · keep one's distance
finger, layer, fingers, layers, laying, layered, layering, fingernail, fingered