jemanden um den Finger wickeln
to wrap someone around one's little finger
Origin
From the image of a pliable blade of grass or woollen thread that winds effortlessly around a finger; one steers the other not by force but by charm. Traceable as early as Martin Luther.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- beziehungsweise / bzw. (respectively, or)beziehungsweise (bzw.)
- Counterfactual result clauses („zu … als dass“)Irreale Konsekutivsätze („zu … als dass“)
Examples
Die wickelt ihren um den .
The little one wraps her grandpa around her little finger with ease.