pointing the finger vs pointing fingers

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Pointing the finger' is used when attributing blame or responsibility to someone, while 'pointing fingers' is used to refer to a situation where multiple people are being blamed or accused.

Last updated: March 22, 2024 • 584 views

pointing the finger

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate attributing blame or responsibility to someone.

This phrase is used when someone is being accused or blamed for something. It implies singling out a specific person as the one responsible for a particular situation.

Examples:

Instead of pointing the finger at others, we should focus on finding solutions.
She's always pointing the finger at me whenever something goes wrong.

Show examples from the web [+]

Once again, therefore, this is not a time for pointing the finger at Italy.
Let us stop pointing the finger at small countries like Malta that can no longer manage the constant flood of immigrants who are washed up daily on their beaches.
In response to some of the remarks, I would like to say that the Commission is not pointing the finger at anyone.
The report reveals the extent of the irregularities in the migrant detention system in Europe, pointing the finger at problems to do with legal advice, medical care, hygiene, promiscuity and information.
the fact that Leach is pointing the finger at Jackson is practically grounds to rule him out.
It is easy to keep pointing the finger at others who are (also) pursuing the militarisation of space.
It is not a case here of pointing the finger at men and women who are often of good faith yet are victims of dishonest networks or employers.
I spent nine years in the Council, and I have never seen a country pointing the finger at another country and saying 'you are not applying the Stability Pact'.
Libya did nothing, while the European countries stood around pointing the finger at one another.
Stop pointing the finger at one another And start acting like a team.
You had no problem pointing the finger last time.
I have been pointing the finger at Gabriel, my oldest friend.
I'm not pointing the finger at anybody.
I'm tired of him pointing the finger at Darren every time things get tough.
Mrs. Fortescue caught Judith pointing the finger at her Jeffrey over last night's cinematic catastrophe.
Every man-jack in the east end pointing the finger at everyone else.
I'm not pointing the finger at America in a blaming way.
I am pointing the finger at the new Member States, but we know that there are also problems in the older ones.
There is no point in one institution pointing the finger at another or criticising it.
It seems to me that blaming and pointing the finger at each other about who deserves to be in the EU is not a panacea for our problems.

Alternatives:

blaming someone
accusing someone
holding someone accountable

pointing fingers

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to a situation where multiple people are being blamed or accused.

This phrase is used when there is a situation where multiple individuals are being accused or blamed for something. It implies a general sense of blame being directed at more than one person.

Examples:

Stop pointing fingers and work together to solve the problem.
In times of crisis, people tend to start pointing fingers instead of cooperating.

Show examples from the web [+]

He's pointing fingers at his competitors, but according to NYPD, he had an after-hours meeting on his calendar with Hayes the night that he died.
How do we know that he's not just pointing fingers, trying to make himself look better?
You've been pointing fingers, falsely accusing me of manipulation just short of tyranny.
Okay. Instead of pointing fingers, let's focus on next steps.
Maybe everyone will stop pointing fingers.
We start pointing fingers, we may implicate ourselves, Taint what they find.
And if we're pointing fingers...
As you can imagine, we need to proceed... carefully before we start pointing fingers at a presidential appointee.
You better find out from Jean exactly what went on... before you start pointing fingers.
Bottom line, I thought it was wrong for me to be pointing fingers if I wasn't going to point one at myself.
Look, now is not the time to be pointing fingers.
Did we learn nothing from pointing fingers at people, Benjamin?
See you pointing fingers, but not offering a fix any to any of these people's problems.
Apart from pointing fingers and assigning blame?
It was such an abysmal failure, that there are a lot of people involved in the initial decision making that are pointing fingers at whose responsibility it is.
I am not pointing fingers, but our daughter had exactly one thing on her list, and someone didn't get it, so someone needs to go to the mall.
Mr President, Commissioner, we are in the middle of a crisis and, if truth be told, we have more important things to be doing at this point in time than pointing fingers and assigning blame.
I don't know, can you wait until we get in there before you start pointing fingers?
Rather than pointing fingers today, I ask instead that you show forgiveness, forgiveness to my wife Joan, for her hurried lack of judgment.
I don't know, can you wait until we get in there before you start pointing fingers?

Alternatives:

assigning blame to multiple people
accusing multiple individuals
placing responsibility on a group

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pointing the finger vs pointing fingers