"FINGER IN THE EYE"

Posted by R. Berg on June 13, 2001

In Reply to: Meaning of "FINGER IN THE EYE" posted by Jenny on June 13, 2001

: One comment on U.S.President Bush's trip to Europe using "The first six months of the Bush presidency seemed almost calculated to POKE ITS PROVERBIAL FINGER IN EUROPE'S EYE on issue ater issue...." Would please tell me what's the meaning of the phrase in capital?

I'm guessing that the author meant simply that Bush's conduct seriously offended Europeans or European governments. He or she was misusing the word "proverbial" unless there is a proverb--not a cliché, an idiom, or a simile, but a proverb--about fingers in eyes.

• "FINGER IN THE EYE" ESC 06/13/01