finger in the pie

finger in the pie

1. A share in the doing of something; involvement.
   • 1842, The Boston Medical and Surgical Journal (volume 26, page 261)

     They informed us that the cause of her committing this rash deed was a dispute with her mistress, but on further inquiry it appears that Cupid had a finger in the pie.

   • 2012, H. Liebaers, Mostly in the Line of Duty: Thirty Years with Books (page 73)

     The Foundation had, however, decided to keep a finger in the pie and to pay its share in the running costs of the school.

• have one's fingers in many pies