lange Finger machen
to steal, to pilfer (a thief is a 'Langfinger')
Origin
The image alludes to the dexterity of the pickpocket who rummages through other people's pockets with nimble fingers. Both 'lange Finger' and 'krumme Finger' are already attested in Abraham a Sancta Clara; 'Langfinger' has been documented since the 17th century.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
deine· yourder Finger· fingerdas Gedränge· crushgern· gladlyhier· heremachen· to doder Pass· passportdie Tasche· bag
Grammar that uses this word
- Simple past 'musste' (had to, from müssen)Präteritum 'musste' (müssen)
- Perfect tense of -ieren verbsPerfekt der Verben auf -ieren
- Subordinate clause with 'wenn' (if/when, temporal/conditional)Nebensatz mit 'wenn' (temporal/konditional)
- Adjective declension after the definite article (nom./acc.)Adjektivdeklination nach bestimmtem Artikel (Nom./Akk.)
- Simple past 'wollte' (wanted to, from wollen)Präteritum 'wollte' (wollen)
- Simple past 'durfte' (was allowed to, from dürfen)Präteritum 'durfte' (dürfen)
Examples
im auf auf, manche lange .
Watch your bag in the crowd — some people here are quick to help themselves.