"Pull your finger out!" Derivation please. | Notes and Queries

"Pull your finger out!" Derivation please.

Philip Draycott, Leicester Leics

• This is WW2 RAF slang and means nothing in particular while sounding satisfyingly vulgar. It was originally used thus - 'Pull your fingers out chaps, officers approaching!' as a warning to slacking ground crews.

  Carla, Crewe UK

• If you have your finger in that particular orifice, it means you have other things on your mind than the subject under review.

  Peter Moore, Carlosle UK

• It's a nautical saying. When cannon were loaded a small amount of powder was poured into the ignition hole near the base of the weapon. In order to keep the powder secure before firing, a crew member pushed one of their fingers into the hole. When the time came for ignition, the crewman was told to pull his finger out.

  Simon W, Ryton UK

• I suspect, as an ex-RAF bod, that it is connected with the phrase, "with his thumb up his arse and his brain in neutral" - someone being in a dream, not with it...

  Tony, Bedford England

• I don't know what the derivation is, but the assertion that it derives from muzzle-loading cannon procedures is utterly untrue. While worming, swabbing and re-loading was being carried out, one of the gun crew would put a hand or a finger (appropriately protected by a leather glove or finger stall)over the touch hole to prevent oxygen reaching the barrel, but never inside the hole. (I have been an accredited re-enactment gun-captain.)

  Syntinen, Kent, England

• My version is that it refers to a dyke in Amsterdam that developed a leak and the city was in danger of flooding. A little boy saw this and all he could think to do was stick his finger in the hole to stop the rush of water and wait for help. In doing so he saved the city from flooding. Thus translated to todays view it means you are slowing down or stopping something that needs to be hurried up so.... you are told to "pull your finger out'and get out of the way and let things happen at a faster pace.

  Peter, Brighton UK

• We are appalled that "pull your finger out" refers to pulling your finger out of your bum. Why would you want to do that? Why not leave it in; it probably took some doing to get it in there in the first place. Go with it, I say. "Put your finger in" , is the new "pull your finger out". Spread the word.

  sarah, devon england