finesse
noun
[ fɪˈnɛs ]
• impressive delicacy and skill.
• "orchestral playing of great finesse"
Similar:
skill,
subtlety,
expertise,
flair,
knack,
panache,
dash,
flourish,
elan,
polish,
adroitness,
skilfulness,
adeptness,
artistry,
art,
artfulness,
virtuosity,
mastery,
genius,
know-how,
• (in bridge and whist) an attempt to win a trick with a card that is not a certain winner, typically by playing it as the third card in a trick in the hope that any card that could beat it is in the hand of the opponent who has already played.
Similar:
winning move,
trick,
stratagem,
ruse,
manoeuvre,
scheme,
artifice,
machination,
bluff,
wile,
dodge,
finesse
verb
• bring about or deal with (something) by using great delicacy and skill.
• "Karen spent ten months finessing the financing for the property"
• (in bridge and whist) play (a card) in the hope of winning a trick with it because any card that could beat it is in the hand of the opponent who has already played.
Origin:
late Middle English (in the sense ‘purity, delicacy’): from French, related to fine1.
