English

Adjective

sticky-fingered ‎(comparative more sticky-fingered, superlative most sticky-fingered)

1. (of a person) Possessing the behavioral trait of stealing, especially of engaging in petty theft while handling money or goods.
   • 1990 Dec. 17, "The Five-Fingered Discount," Time:

     Sticky-fingered customers and employees make off with $9 billion in merchandise annually.

   • 1991, Sean Altman and David Yazbek (music), “Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?”:

     Well, she sneaks around the world from Kiev to Carolina / She's a sticky-fingered filcher from Berlin down to Belize

   • 2004 May 8, Jonathan LeMire, "Queens Teller Swiped 190G, Cops Say," New York Daily News (retrieved 22 July 2011):

     A sticky-fingered teller was charged with stealing more than $190000 from her Queens bank in the past four months.

2. (sports) Skillful in catching or handling the ball, in such games as baseball, football, basketball, etc.
   • 1963 Dec. 30, "Bears Win, 14 to 10; Take Title," Boston Globe, p. 13 (retrieved 22 July 2011):

     Chicago's sticky-fingered defense intercepted five of YA Tittle's passes.

   • 2007 June 13, Jon Krawczynski, "Twins 7, Braves 3," USA Today, (retrieved 22 July 2011):

     His batting average has hovered in the .330s all season and he has played his usual sticky-fingered defense at second.

Related terms

• sticky fingers

See also

• five-finger discount
• pilfery