have a finger in something—(also: have a hand in something) be involved in smth.; play a role in smth.:
- Possibly the Russians might have had a finger in this. The cold war was raging at that time.
pull one’s finger out—(sl.) start working more efficiently (also: get one’s finger out):
- We’re still waiting for the reviewer to pull his finger out and deliver. Serves us right for recruiting literary talent in a bar.