sticky-fingered

sticky-fingered (comparative more sticky-fingered, superlative most sticky-fingered)

1. (of a person) Possessing the behavioral trait of stealing, especially of engaging in petty theft while handling money or goods.
   • 1990 December 17, “The Five-Fingered Discount”, in Time:

     Sticky-fingered customers and employees make off with $9 billion in merchandise annually.

   • 1991, “Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?”, Sean Altman, David Yazbek (music):

     Well, she sneaks around the world from Kiev to Carolina / She's a sticky-fingered filcher from Berlin down to Belize

   • 2004 May 8, Jonathan LeMire, “Queens Teller Swiped 190G, Cops Say”, in New York Daily News, retrieved 22 July 2011:

     A sticky-fingered teller was charged with stealing more than $190000 from her Queens bank in the past four months.

2. (sports) Skillful in catching or handling the ball, in such games as baseball, football, basketball, etc.
   • 1963 December 30, “Bears Win, 14 to 10; Take Title”, in Boston Globe, retrieved 22 July 2011, page 13:

     Chicago's sticky-fingered defense intercepted five of YA Tittle's passes.

   • 2007 June 13, Jon Krawczynski, “Twins 7, Braves 3”, in USA Today, retrieved 22 July 2011:

     His batting average has hovered in the .330s all season and he has played his usual sticky-fingered defense at second.

• sticky fingers

sticky-fingered

1. simple past and past participle of sticky-finger

• five-finger discount
• light-fingered
• pilfery