verb · transitive · rare

finesse

fin·esse

finesse · finesses · finessed · finessing

verschönern, ausarbeiten, aufwerten, verfeinern

To evade by using some clever argument or stratagemTo evade (a problem, situation, etc.) by using some clever argument or stratagem.

ⓘ

/fɪˈnɛs/

» His style involves brute force, not finesse.

Sein Stil beruht auf roher Gewalt, nicht auf Finesse.

Meaning

6 senses

(Canada, US, transitive)To evade (a problem, situation, etc.) by using some clever argument or stratagem.
To evade (a problem, situation, etc.) by using some clever argument or stratagem.
(Canada, US, ambitransitive, transitive)To handle or manage carefully or skilfully; to manipulate in a crafty way.
ausarbeiten, aufwerten, verschönern
(Canada, US, slang, transitive)To obtain something from someone through trickery or manipulation.
(intransitive)To attempt to win a trick by finessing.
(transitive)To play (a card) as a finesse.
(intransitive, obsolete)To play a ball out of the way of an opponent.

Examples

5 sentences

His style involves brute force, not finesse.
deSein Stil beruht auf roher Gewalt, nicht auf Finesse.
CC BY · Tatoeba · AlanF_US · C1Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
It could have been executed with more finesse.
CC BY · Tatoeba · Nuel · C1Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
He did it with the finesse we've come to expect from Tom.
CC0 · Tatoeba · shekitten · C1Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
His innate understanding of pleasure allows him to explore and fulfill fantasies with finesse.
CC BY · Tatoeba · Nuel · C1Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
A lot of people can do that, but Tom does it with a rare finesse.
CC0 · Tatoeba · shekitten · C1Open on Tatoeba Report a problem

Translations

3 languages

Deutsch

By meaning 1

to handle or manage carefully or skilfully; to manipulate in a crafty way:

Origin

From Middle English finesse (“a degree of excellence; (of metal) fineness, purity”), from

From Middle English finesse (“a degree of excellence; (of metal) fineness, purity”), from Middle French finesse, Old French finesse (“a fineness; a delicacy; slenderness”), from fine, fin (“fine, thin”) (from Latin fīnis (“an end”); compare Middle English fīn (“of superior quality; precious, valuable; admirable, pleasing; pure, refined; fineness, purity; delicate, exquisite, fine; sharp, thin”)) + -esse (suffix forming nouns describing the condition of being something). The verb is derived from the noun.

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Forms

finesses, finessing, finessed, finessed

Base form	finesse · to finesse
3rd person singular	finesses
Present participle	finessing
Past simple	finessed
Past participle	finessed

regular · Lesson

Present simpleLesson

I, you, we, they	finesse
he, she, it	finesses

Past simpleLesson

all persons

finessed

Present perfectLesson

I, you, we, they	have finessed
he, she, it	has finessed

Future simple (will)Lesson

all persons

will finesse

A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle