sticky fingers
plural noun Informal.
a propensity to steal.
Origin of sticky fingers
First recorded in 1930–35
OTHER WORDS FROM sticky fingers
stick·y-fin·gered [stik-ee-fing-gerd] /ˈstɪk iˈfɪŋ gərd/, adjectiveWords nearby sticky fingers
stickwork,
sticky,
sticky blood,
sticky bun,
sticky end,
sticky fingers,
sticky note,
sticky rice,
sticky wicket,
sticky willie,
sticky-fingered
Idioms and Phrases with sticky fingers
sticky fingers
A propensity to steal, as in You'd better not leave any cash around; she's known for her sticky fingers. This metaphor makes it seem as if valuables adhere naturally to a thief's fingers. [Colloquial; late 1800s]