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finesse

   Also found in: Legal, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
fi·nesse  (f-ns)
n.
1. Refinement and delicacy of performance, execution, or artisanship.
2. Skillful, subtle handling of a situation; tactful, diplomatic maneuvering.
3. A method of leading up to a tenace, as in bridge, in order to prevent an opponent from winning the trick with an intermediate card.
4. A stratagem in which one appears to decline an advantage.
v. fi·nessed, fi·ness·ing, fi·ness·es
v.tr.
1. To accomplish by the use of finesse.
2. To handle with a deceptive or evasive strategy.
3. To play (a card) as a finesse.
v.intr.
1. To use finesse.
2. To make a finesse in cards.

[French, fineness, subtlety, from fin, fine; see fine1.]

finesse [fɪˈnɛs]
n
1. elegant skill in style or performance
2. subtlety and tact in handling difficult situations
3. (Group Games / Card Games) Bridge whist an attempt to win a trick when opponents hold a high card in the suit led by playing a lower card, hoping the opponent who has already played holds the missing card
4. a trick, artifice, or strategy
vb
1. to manage or bring about with finesse
2. (Group Games / Card Games) to play (a card) as a finesse
[from Old French, from fin fine, delicate; see fine1]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.finesse - subtly skillful handling of a situation
tact, tactfulness - consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense

finesse
noun
2. stratagem, trick, manoeuvre, bluff, ruse, artifice, feint, wile Declarer was planning to take a finesse in spades.
verb
manoeuvre, steer, manipulate, bluff a typical politician trying to finesse a sticky situation
Translations
finesse [fɪˈnes]
A. N
1. (in judgement) → finura f, delicadeza f; (in action) → diplomacia f, sutileza f; (= cunning) → astucia f
2. (Cards) → impasse m
B. VThacer el impasse a

finesse [fɪˈnɛs] nfinesse f
fine-tooth comb n
to go through sth with a fine-tooth comb (fig)passer qch au peigne fin
He went through the documents with a fine-tooth comb → Il a passé les documents au peigne fin.
fine-tune [ˌfaɪnˈtjuːn] vt [+ plan, production, the economy] → régler avec précision
fine-tuning [ˌfaɪnˈtjuːnɪŋ] nréglage m minutieux

finesse
n
(= skill, diplomacy)Gewandtheit f, → Geschick nt
(= cunning)Schlauheit f, → Finesse f
(Cards) → Schneiden nt
vi (Cards) → schneiden
vt
(= do with finesse) problemgeschickt lösen; (= avoid)ausweichen (+dat)
(Cards) → schneiden

finesse [fɪˈnɛs] nfinezza (Cards) → impasse f
finesse [fɪˈnɛs] nfinezza (Cards) → impasse f

finesse
n finesse [fines]
cleverness and skill in dealing with a situation etc She managed that situation with great finesse. subtiliteit; fynigheid; keurigheid أناقَه финес obratnost snilde; diplomati; dygtighed die Schlauheit διπλωματία, διπλωματικότητα delicadeza osavus مهارت taidokkuus finesse כִּישָרוֹן וטקט चतुराई spretnost, taktičnost fortély, finesz kecerdikan fágun, snilli, kunnátta finezza 手ぎわのよさ 솜씨, 수완 taktas, diplomatiškumas smalkums; taktiskums kehalusan finesse behendighet, listighet finezja subtileza fineţe деликатность obratnosť spretnost veština finess ความสามารถในการแก้ไขสถานการณ์ ustalık, maharet 手腕,技巧 майстерність; хитрощі نفاست ، ہنر مندی sự khéo léo; mưu mẹo 腕,,


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Perhaps Catherine was wrong in not demanding the cause of that gentle emotion -- but she was not experienced enough in the finesse of love, or the duties of friendship, to know when delicate raillery was properly called for, or when a confidence should be forced.
Now the beautiful Eudosia--for beautiful, and even lovely, this glorious- looking creature was, in spite of a very badly modulated voice, certain inroads upon the fitness of things in the way of expression, and a want of a knowledge of the finesse of fine life--now the beautiful Eudosia had an intimate friend named Clara Caverly, who was as unlike her as possible, in character, education, habits, and appearance; and yet who was firmly her friend.
He could not be an assassin, and it was repugnant to Monk to believe him to be a spy, but there was sufficient finesse and at the same time firmness in Athos to lead Monk to fancy he was a conspirator.
 
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