lay a finger on

From Middle English fynger on (hem) to leyn (“touch (someone) with hostile intent”).

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lay a finger on (third-person singular simple present lays a finger on, present participle laying a finger on, simple past and past participle laid a finger on)

1. (idiomatic, colloquial) To merely touch.

   If you lay a finger on my little brother, I'll have your guts for garters.