sticky-fingered

English

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

(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.
(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.

possessing the behavioural trait of stealing

sticky-fingered