not lift a finger meaning

To take no action

[American idiom]
to do nothing to help someone. (The someone is anyone in the negative.)
• They wouldn't lift a finger to help us.
• Can you imagine that they wouldn't lift a finger?
• Sally refused to lift a hand to help her own sister.

[American slang]
Fig. to do nothing to help someone. (The someone is anyone with the negative.)
  They wouldn't lift a finger to help us.
  Can you imagine that they wouldn't lift a finger?
  Sally refused to lift a hand to help her own sister.

• lift a finger:    [American slang]v. ...
• not to lift a finger:    [American slang]v. ...
• lift:    Verb: lift &n ...

Examples

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1. the king did not lift a finger when his people were hungry
2. he will not lift a finger for her
3. not lift a finger
4. "personally, i will not lift a finger to leave milan, but in the future, who knows?
5. Banks will not lift a finger to help these new businessmen.