Finesse
noun
Skill and cleverness in handling difficult situations, often in a subtle way.
The diplomat managed the tense meeting with great finesse.
Often appears as...
- handle with finesse
- show finesse
verb
To manage something in a subtle and skilful way.
She was able to finesse her way out of the situation.
Often appears as...
- finesse a solution
- finesse one's way
noun
In card games, a tactic of playing a card which is not a certain winner but has a chance of winning if some specific cards are played by the opponents.
His successful finesse helped him win the game of bridge.
Often appears as...
- successful finesse
- fail in finesse
Usage tips
Technical
noun
Skill and cleverness in handling difficult situations, often in a subtle way.
The diplomat managed the tense meeting with great finesse.
Often appears as...
- handle with finesse
- show finesse
verb
To manage something in a subtle and skilful way.
She was able to finesse her way out of the situation.
Often appears as...
- finesse a solution
- finesse one's way
noun
In card games, a tactic of playing a card which is not a certain winner but has a chance of winning if some specific cards are played by the opponents.
His successful finesse helped him win the game of bridge.
Often appears as...
- successful finesse
- fail in finesse
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Subtle Handling
Refers to dealing with tricky situations without drawing much attention or causing disruption.
He used finesse to settle the argument quietly.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Force
Finesse involves using intelligence over strength or direct confrontation.
She resolved the conflict with finesse, not aggression.
Pro Tip 3/3Sophisticated Skill
Implies a high level of skill or sophistication that appears effortless.
His negotiation displayed impressive finesse.
Pro Tip 1/3Subtle Handling
Refers to dealing with tricky situations without drawing much attention or causing disruption.
He used finesse to settle the argument quietly.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Force
Finesse involves using intelligence over strength or direct confrontation.
She resolved the conflict with finesse, not aggression.
Pro Tip 3/3Sophisticated Skill
Implies a high level of skill or sophistication that appears effortless.
His negotiation displayed impressive finesse.
Pro Tip 1/3Subtle Handling
Refers to dealing with tricky situations without drawing much attention or causing disruption.
He used finesse to settle the argument quietly.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Force
Finesse involves using intelligence over strength or direct confrontation.
She resolved the conflict with finesse, not aggression.
Pro Tip 3/3Sophisticated Skill
Implies a high level of skill or sophistication that appears effortless.
His negotiation displayed impressive finesse.
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Video examples
Meet Six Rescued Rhinos...
really get up as far as we understand and the heinous actually started to eat him starting with itself so he lost most of his toe I'm dr. Rogers came in stitch to tell up quite nicely get all finesse lost his parents night it's seeking comfort and it's up to us student providing we've said concrete and it's not not a chance
Video examples
Richard Weller: Could...
but deaths from heart disease are a hundred times higher than deaths from skin cancer. And I think that we need to be more aware of, and we need to find the risk-benefit ratio. How much sunlight is safe, and how can we finesse this best for our general health?
Video examples
Aimee Mullins: Changing...
by three hundredths of a second, and became the new national record-holder on my first try out. And, you know, people said, "Aimee, you know, you've got speed -- you've got natural speed -- but you don't have any skill or finesse going down that track.
Video examples
How to defend Earth from...
connected by their own gravity and if you move the probe very slowly very very gently you can very easily finesse that rock into a safe orbit you could even put it in orbit around the earth where we could mine it although that's a whole
Video examples
The Surreal World of...
literally changes by the minute so it really helps to have an idea in mind before you go out there and I did I'd scoped out a particularly interesting set of trees and then it became a matter to finesse the details executing the
Video examples
How to build safer...
feel the brick you have to feel the wall you have to feel the mortar that sticks the bricks together you have to feel it all brick laying is it's a skill it's an art it takes finesse it's not a matter
Video examples
Phil Plait: How to...
you can very easily finesse that rock into a safe orbit. You can even put in orbit around the Earth where we could mine it, although that's a whole other thing; I won't go into that. But we'd be rich!
Video examples
Army Ants, Orchids and...
we're going out for more expeditions we're going to try the match the animals with our color and our finesse and our stories and I hope you follow those stories in the years to come thanks so much
Video examples
Grizzly Bear Gets Too...
geez look at that it's like it's playing tiddlywinks with those rocks it's gonna got the finesse of a ballet dancer but with the power of a bulldozer no
Video examples
The next big thing is...
So what is Ghetto Gastro? Ultimately, it's a movement and a philosophy. We view the work we do as gastrodiplomacy, using food and finesse
Video examples
Meet Six Rescued Rhinos...
really get up as far as we understand and the heinous actually started to eat him starting with itself so he lost most of his toe I'm dr. Rogers came in stitch to tell up quite nicely get all finesse lost his parents night it's seeking comfort and it's up to us student providing we've said concrete and it's not not a chance
Video examples
Richard Weller: Could...
but deaths from heart disease are a hundred times higher than deaths from skin cancer. And I think that we need to be more aware of, and we need to find the risk-benefit ratio. How much sunlight is safe, and how can we finesse this best for our general health?
Video examples
Aimee Mullins: Changing...
by three hundredths of a second, and became the new national record-holder on my first try out. And, you know, people said, "Aimee, you know, you've got speed -- you've got natural speed -- but you don't have any skill or finesse going down that track.
Video examples
How to defend Earth from...
connected by their own gravity and if you move the probe very slowly very very gently you can very easily finesse that rock into a safe orbit you could even put it in orbit around the earth where we could mine it although that's a whole
Video examples
The Surreal World of...
literally changes by the minute so it really helps to have an idea in mind before you go out there and I did I'd scoped out a particularly interesting set of trees and then it became a matter to finesse the details executing the
Video examples
How to build safer...
feel the brick you have to feel the wall you have to feel the mortar that sticks the bricks together you have to feel it all brick laying is it's a skill it's an art it takes finesse it's not a matter
Video examples
Phil Plait: How to...
you can very easily finesse that rock into a safe orbit. You can even put in orbit around the Earth where we could mine it, although that's a whole other thing; I won't go into that. But we'd be rich!
Video examples
Army Ants, Orchids and...
we're going out for more expeditions we're going to try the match the animals with our color and our finesse and our stories and I hope you follow those stories in the years to come thanks so much
Video examples
Grizzly Bear Gets Too...
geez look at that it's like it's playing tiddlywinks with those rocks it's gonna got the finesse of a ballet dancer but with the power of a bulldozer no
Video examples
The next big thing is...
So what is Ghetto Gastro? Ultimately, it's a movement and a philosophy. We view the work we do as gastrodiplomacy, using food and finesse
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Ali Krieger
American Athlete
There is something quintessentially American about the USWNT. Last-minute, dramatic finishes and technical finesse aside, the spirit of the program reflects a determination and perseverance that resonates with the deeply held belief that with hard work, anything is possible.
Quote examples
Quavo
American Musician
We just compare our lifestyle to movies so you can relate to them. When I say, 'I bought a carpet from Aladdin so I could finesse and do magic,' that means I had to get me a new whip or I had to get me something in disguise to work my magic, to finesse, to get out of here.
Quote examples
Kirstin Maldonado
American Musician
Our album stuff, we bring it to our producer to help us finesse. But anything that's been on YouTube and a lot of the stuff that's been on the album, too, it started from us just sitting around in a circle and jamming it and finding where the parts fit.
Quote examples
D. B. Sweeney
American Actor
When you do a play, or even a movie, you have weeks to finesse your character. You really understand why they do what they do. In TV, you get new material weekly about your character.
Quote examples
Vidyasagar
Indian Composer
Doing background score for a film is not an easy task. It requires constant and deep learning and it is the only way to create a score with finesse.
Quote examples
Virgil Abloh
American Designer
What I love about tennis is the gracefulness. It's an aggressive and powerful game, but it takes touch and finesse.
Quote examples
Bertolt Brecht
German Poet
To live means to finesse the processes to which one is subjugated.
Quote examples
Elvis Stojko
Canadian Athlete
I had the strength and the finesse there and put it all together.
Quote examples
P. J. Tucker
American Basketball Player
I am the finesse king, especially when it comes to shoes.
Quote examples
David Cone
American Athlete
I'm a finesse pitcher without the finesse.
Quote examples
Ali Krieger
American Athlete
There is something quintessentially American about the USWNT. Last-minute, dramatic finishes and technical finesse aside, the spirit of the program reflects a determination and perseverance that resonates with the deeply held belief that with hard work, anything is possible.
Quote examples
Quavo
American Musician
We just compare our lifestyle to movies so you can relate to them. When I say, 'I bought a carpet from Aladdin so I could finesse and do magic,' that means I had to get me a new whip or I had to get me something in disguise to work my magic, to finesse, to get out of here.
Quote examples
Kirstin Maldonado
American Musician
Our album stuff, we bring it to our producer to help us finesse. But anything that's been on YouTube and a lot of the stuff that's been on the album, too, it started from us just sitting around in a circle and jamming it and finding where the parts fit.
Quote examples
D. B. Sweeney
American Actor
When you do a play, or even a movie, you have weeks to finesse your character. You really understand why they do what they do. In TV, you get new material weekly about your character.
Quote examples
Vidyasagar
Indian Composer
Doing background score for a film is not an easy task. It requires constant and deep learning and it is the only way to create a score with finesse.
Quote examples
Virgil Abloh
American Designer
What I love about tennis is the gracefulness. It's an aggressive and powerful game, but it takes touch and finesse.
Quote examples
Bertolt Brecht
German Poet
To live means to finesse the processes to which one is subjugated.
Quote examples
Elvis Stojko
Canadian Athlete
I had the strength and the finesse there and put it all together.
Quote examples
P. J. Tucker
American Basketball Player
I am the finesse king, especially when it comes to shoes.
Quote examples
David Cone
American Athlete
I'm a finesse pitcher without the finesse.
Example 1 of 10
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