| English | Russian |
| can't put one's finger on | поймать (мысль или имя, которые вертятся на языке) When you can't put your finger on something, it means you know something instinctively, but you can't specifically identify it; it could be something that feels wrong to you but you don't know exactly what, or a flavor in a dish you are eating that you can't isolate, e.g.: I know her name, I just can't put my finger on it. • A certain something, but I can't put my finger on what it is. • There's something odd about him, but I can't quite put my finger on it. • I can't put my finger on why I like it so much. • I couldn't put my finger on what exactly I was tasting. 4uzhoj) |
| hard to put finger on | трудно почувствовать (Your hesitation may be hard to put your finger on, but it's there for a reason. VLZ_58) |
| hard to put finger on | трудноосязаемый (VLZ_58) |
| put a finger on | установить (Англо-русский фразеологический словарь А.В. Кунина, М., 1984: While it’s hard to put a finger on the exact nature of the actual Hodag, we do have a very accurate history of the legends surrounding the fabled beast.  rhinelanderchamber.com ART Vancouver) |
| put a finger on | определить (Англо-русский фразеологический словарь А.В. Кунина, М., 1984: While it’s hard to put a finger on the exact nature of the actual Hodag, we do have a very accurate history of the legends surrounding the fabled beast. rhinelanderchamber.com ART Vancouver) |
| put a finger on | выяснить (Англо-русский фразеологический словарь А.В. Кунина, М., 1984: While it’s hard to put a finger on the exact nature of the actual Hodag, we do have a very accurate history of the legends surrounding the fabled beast. rhinelanderchamber.com ART Vancouver) |
| put one's finger on | распознавать (В.И.Макаров) |
| put one's finger on | смекнуть (обычно в отриц. предложениях Александр_10) |
| put one's finger on | вспомнить (напр., то, что вертится на языке: It's at the tip of my tongue but I can't put my finger on it. 4uzhoj) |
| put one's finger on | сразу понять (обычно в отриц. предложениях fishborn) |
| put one's finger on | точно установить (обычно в отриц. предложениях arieseira) |
| put one's finger on | уловить (суть; обычно в отриц. предложениях: There's something odd about him, but I can't quite put my finger on it. fishborn) |
| put one's finger on | войти в суть (чего-либо fishborn) |
| put one's finger on | поймать (мысль и т.п.; обычно в отриц. предложениях: It's at the tip of my tongue but I can't put my finger on it. 4uzhoj) |
| put one's finger on | припомнить (I know her name, I just can't put my finger on it. ART Vancouver) |
| put one's finger on | разобраться, что к чему (обычно в отриц. предложениях Александр_10) |
| put one's finger on | распознать (вкус, свои ощущения и т.п.; обычно в отриц. предложениях) |
| put one's finger on | уловить суть дела (обычно в отриц. предложениях Александр_10) |
| put one's finger on | понять, в чём дело (обычно в отриц. предложениях: Like you know something's wrong, but you can't put your finger on it yet Дмитрий_Р) |
| put something on the long finger | откладывать в долгий ящик (Irish Baxter) |
