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Definition

To stop wasting time in preliminaries, and concentrate on the important task.

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Origins

Clipping of pull one's finger out of one's arse, probably from the notion that one should not sit on one's hands.

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In Context

  • "You've been sitting there all week. It's time you sorted yourself out and pulled your finger out!"
  • "Speaking at Mayor's Question Time on February 24, Sheikh said: "It's time for the Government to pull its finger out and give TfL the funding package it needs in the wake of the pandemic."