clean-fingered

A clean-fingered official refuses a bribe.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Honest; not corrupt: "clean-fingered" describes a person who is free from dishonesty, especially in financial or professional matters. It implies integrity and a lack of involvement in illicit activities.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The accountant was known to be clean-fingered, never taking a penny from the company's funds. (Honest and incorruptible.)
  • Only clean-fingered officials were selected to oversee the election. (Officials with no history of bribery or fraud.)

Advanced Usage

• "to remain clean-fingered": to stay honest and avoid corruption.
  • Despite the temptations of power, the judge remained clean-fingered throughout his career. (He maintained his integrity.)

Variants and Related Words

• Clean-fingered is a compound adjective. Its meaning is derived from the literal sense of "clean" (free from dirt) applied metaphorically to moral purity.
• Clean-handed (adj): having a clear conscience; innocent.
  • She emerged from the scandal clean-handed. (She was not guilty.)
• Clean-living (adj): living a morally upright life.
  • He was a clean-living man who never drank or gambled. (He lived virtuously.)

Synonyms

• Incorruptible: not susceptible to corruption, especially by bribery.
• Upright: strictly honest and morally correct.
• Honest: truthful and fair.

Related Idioms

• To have clean hands: to be innocent or free from guilt.
  • The politician claimed to have clean hands in the affair. (He asserted his innocence.)