five-finger exercise
See also: five finger exercise
English
Noun
five-finger exercise (plural five-finger exercises)
- (music) A musical composition for the piano, designed to require the use of all the fingers of the hand for the purpose of skill development.
- 1899, Arthur Conan Doyle, chapter 20, in A Duet:
- It was the singular room which Carlyle had constructed in the hopes that he could shut out all the noises of the universe, the crowing of cocks, and the jingling of a young lady's five-finger exercise in particular.
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- (figuratively, by extension) An activity which is undertaken for the purpose of skill development.
- 2008 July 9, Richard Corliss, "Batman Is Back—TIME Reviews The Dark Knight," Time:
- Batman Begins, the 2005 film that launched Nolan's series, was a mere five-finger exercise. This is the full symphony.
- 2008 July 9, Richard Corliss, "Batman Is Back—TIME Reviews The Dark Knight," Time: