finesse
fih-NESS
/fɪˈnes/
Great subtlety and skill in handling a situation or a physical movement.
In sports, finesse refers to 'touch' shots—like drop shots or lobs—that rely on delicacy rather than raw power.
The story behind the word. From the French 'finesse,' which comes from 'fin' (fine). It shares a root with 'finish,' implying a level of skill that is 'finished' or perfected to the highest degree.
Word relationships
- delicacy: 'Delicacy' refers to the fragile nature of something, while 'finesse' refers to the skill used to handle it.
- brute force: Brute force relies on power and strength without regard for subtlety.
Commonly confused with
- skill: Skill is a broad term, while finesse is a specific type of high-level, delicate skill.
Collocations
- tactical finesse
- technical finesse
- play with finesse
Example sentences
- "Tennis is a game of finesse as much as it is a game of power." Sports philosophy
- "He used his finesse to drop the ball just over the net, leaving his opponent stranded." Match report
Memory hook
'Finesse' is for 'Fine' shots. Delicate touch.
When not to use
Don't use 'finesse' for a powerful, aggressive move; it is strictly for delicate actions.
Fun facts
- In bridge (the card game), a 'finesse' is a specific technique to win a trick with a lower-ranking card.
Also appears in
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