light-fingered
/ˌlʌɪtˈfɪŋɡəd
/adjective
1 informal Prone to steal: light-fingered shoplifters...
- Action peaks during the visit of a circus - complete with elephants, tigers, and light-fingered pickpockets.
- Over the last three weeks, light-fingered thieves have been helping themselves to power tools, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, gardening tools and mountain bikes from sheds in Farnham, Godalming, Guildford, Clandon, Shackleford and Albury.
Synonyms
thieving, thievish, stealing, pilfering, shoplifting, pocket-picking;
dishonest
informal crooked, filching, sticky-fingered, nimble-fingered
2Having or showing delicate skill with the hands: it is played with an irresistibly light-fingered spontaneity...
- Maybe we Scots have the light-fingered skills essential for shortbread, pastry and scones because so many of our kitchens resemble freezers in winter and fridges in summer, giving us the necessary cold hands.