finger-licking
/ˈfɪŋ.ɡə ˌlɪk.ɪŋ/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Very tasty and enjoyable to eat. It is often used in informal speech, especially for rich or delicious food.
- We had finger-licking fried chicken.
- Her sauce is finger-licking good.
Adinary Nuance
Finger-licking is stronger and more casual than tasty or delicious. It often suggests food is so good that people might lick their fingers after eating it. Writers use it for vivid, friendly praise, not for formal writing.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- ngon tuyệt
- Spanish
- riquísimo
- Chinese
- 好吃到舔手指
- Japanese
- 指をなめたくなる
- Korean
- 손가락까지 빨아먹을 맛의
Etymology
The phrase comes from the idea of licking your fingers after eating food that is so good and messy. It became common in informal English as a strong praise for food.
Common phrases
finger-licking goodfinger-licking foodfinger-licking sauce
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is finger-licking formal or informal?
- It is informal and friendly. It is common in speech and advertising.
- Can I use finger-licking for non-food things?
- Usually no. It mainly describes food, especially very tasty food.
- Is finger-licking the same as delicious?
- Almost, but finger-licking is more vivid and casual. It sounds more playful.
- Is finger-licking used in business writing?
- Only in ads or casual food descriptions. It is not good for formal business reports.