Keep your finger on the pulse means stay aware of the latest changes in a field. Our editor has his finger on the pulse of the city's music scene: he knows what's happening before it's news. Add the field with of: the pulse of local reading trends.
When would you say keep your finger on the pulse?
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have or keep + possessive + finger on the pulse + of a field
- Talking to independent booksellers helps her keep her finger on the pulse of local reading trends.
- Our editor has his finger on the pulse of the city's music scene.
- I visit small galleries to keep my finger on the pulse between major exhibitions.
What changed
First versionShe keeps her finger on pulse of the local arts scene.
RevisionShe keeps her finger on the pulse of the local arts scene.
Short phrases like on time have no article, so on pulse can look fine. But the idiom needs the: on the pulse. Your changes with the person: my finger, her finger.
Keep up with the news means simply follow the news. Be up to date means know the latest facts. Keep your finger on the pulse means understand what a whole field is living through: an industry, a city, a market.
Your turn
Complete the established idiom: You need to keep your finger on ___ pulse.
Show the answer
the — The idiom always has the pulse. A pulse sounds literal, like one person's pulse.
Name a field you follow closely and say how you do it, using keep my finger on the pulse.
I talk to café owners to keep my finger on the pulse of the local food scene.
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