1. Home
2. Idioms
3. itchy

itchy

---

---

an itchy trigger finger

1. An inclination or readiness to shoot a gun (especially at someone) without needing much or any provocation or justification. I wouldn't stay too long around here—there are a lot of people with itchy trigger fingers in this part of town.

2. By extension, an inclination, readiness, or tendency to act or react carelessly, rashly, or without due consideration. John's itchy trigger finger is going to get him into trouble with his boss someday. When you're working in a restaurant, it's important not to have an itchy trigger finger when customers come to you with complaints.

See also: finger, itchy, trigger

*itchy feet

Fig. the need to leave; a feeling of a need to travel. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) Hearing the train whistle at night gives me itchy feet.

See also: feet, itchy

*itchy palm

 and *itching palm

Fig. [of a hand] in need of a tip. (As if placing money in the palm would stop the itching. *Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) All the waiters at that restaurant have itchy palms. The cabdriver was troubled by an itching palm. Since he refused to carry my bags, I gave him nothing. Whenever he sees expensive luggage, the hotel doorman gets an itching palm.

See also: itchy, palm

have itchy feet

  (British & Australian informal)

to want to travel or to do something different Why've you got all these travel brochures? Do you have itchy feet? (British & Australian informal)

See also: feet, have, itchy

itchy palm

Also, itching palm. A desire for money, greed; also, wanting a bribe. For example, The porter has an itchy palm; he wants a big tip, or The mayor was known for his itchy palm. This expression alludes to placing money in the palm of the hand. [Late 1500s]

See also: itchy, palm

an itchy palm

A strong desire for money, especially bribes.

See also: itchy, palm