finger trouble

finger trouble n. a problem caused by a typographical error, incorrect settings on a machine, or poor manual dexterity. Etymological Note: This term appears to originate in aviation. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

1 comment
  • With PC’s, such errors are politely called “chair keyboard interface errors”, or, less politely, “Id10t” errors.”

    In tech support parlance: “User Error, Replace user and try again.”

Further reading

Herd of Turtles (episode #1587)

Some college students are using the word loyalty as a synonym for monogamy. Are the meanings of these words now shifting? Plus, a biologist discovers a new species of bat, then names it after a poet he admires. Also, warm memories of how a childhood...

Beefed It (episode #1580)

The words tough, through, and dough all end in O-U-G-H. So why don’t they rhyme? A lively new book addresses the many quirks of English by explaining the history of words and phrases. And: have you ever been in a situation where a group makes...

Recent posts