Meanings
- idiomaticinformalpluralplural onlyA seemingly natural gardening ability.
To some they are a rural escape in the centre of the city, to others they are a chance to test their green fingers and design skills. Now London mayor Boris Johnson has found a new use for urban roof gardens – as a key weapon on the front line against global warming.
2008 August 29, David Adam, “Environment: Johnson unveils secret weapon in war on climate change – the roof garden”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 13 Mar 2023Synonyms: green thumb
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA seemingly natural gardening ability.
More synonyms by meaning
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
PIE word *pénkʷe From green (adjective) + fingers, possibly popularized by the British gardener and radio and television broadcaster Cecil Henry Middleton (1886–1945).
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
green fingers. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/green%20fingers
“green fingers.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/green%20fingers. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “green fingers,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/green%20fingers.
Source: green fingers on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.