prov. The generalized or `folk' version of Murphy's Law, fully named "Finagle's Law of Dynamic Negatives" and usually rendered "Anything that can go wrong, will".

The label `Finagle's Law' was popularized by science fiction author Larry Niven in several stories depicting a frontier culture of asteroid miners; this `Belter' culture professed a religion and/or running joke involving the worship of the dread god Finagle and his mad prophet Murphy. Some technical and scientific cultures know it under the name Sod's Law; this usage may be more common in Great Britain.

Anything that can go wrong, will.

Finagle's Law by Belatu July 26, 2004

Related Words

Finnagle • finagle • finagle a bagel • Finagle that bagel • Finangle • fannagle • finagled • finagled (v.) • Finagleing • finaglement

finagle a bagel

A maneuver in racket sports, most commonly tennis, where the athlete his a ball with the backside of their weak hand while spinning to return the ball.

Federer just had to finagle a bagel to win his match, that was incredible

finagle a bagel by The Otter Dictionary March 13, 2015

finagle

To obtain something desired by bargaining, wheedling, and dealing.

Meyer finagled a band for the Bar Mitzvah. "So how did he get that trombone player?" asked Mrs. Fine sotto voce.

finagle by Bumkicker Slade May 10, 2005

kegel finagle

When a female surreptitiously has unusually strong vaginal muscles and proceeds to injure her male counterpart's penis during sex

"Man, that girl last last night really fucked my dick over. She pulled a kegel finagle five minutes in and damn near popped my dick."

kegel finagle by spinkle0711 March 26, 2014

finaglement

A finaglement is basically achieving a sloppy means to an end through utter tom-foolery or manipulation requiring trickery in a sly, perhaps fraudulent sense.

I'm broke as shit... Tonight I need to plan a finaglement of sorts...

See Also: "The nightly finagle."

finaglement by timJae June 30, 2009

Finagle that Bagel

Another term for "lets get this bread" which is catchy and obscure. Primarily used by gamers or normie twitter users.

*wins match* YOOO gamers lets Finagle that Bagel brother.

Finagle that Bagel by DaeBaeFay December 31, 2018

Galantir

A group of people, typically women, searching through someone’s digital footprint in order to find more information about that person.

Susie wasn’t sure if her new Hinge match was a creep, so she assembled Galantir and they found out he used to post slurs on gaming forums.

Galantir by Ge-sus September 22, 2026

Word of the Day on September 23, 2026

murderhobo

In a tabletop game, a murderhobo is a player who murders NPCs indiscriminately. This is normally derogatory, referring to a player who totally ignores quests, dialog, backstory, trade, world building etc.

The term is most common with Dungeons and Dragons, but it can be applied to most RPGs where the player is allowed to kill most quest-giving NPCs and NPC traders. E.g. Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Divinity original sin.

DM: The sad little orphan girl tugs at Steve's trenchcoat to get his attention, and ask for help saving her pet dog from...
Steve: I'd like to roll a strength check against strangling the orphan.
Dave: I call dibs on the dog.
DM: You murderhobos disgust me.

murderhobo by Loup&S September 9, 2021

Word of the Day on September 22, 2026

Whale

In sales terms, a whale is a prospect that is significantly larger than an organization’s average customer.

Whales are large and extremely difficult to close. Due to their immense size, they are highly sought-after.

A whale is typically identified at first by a whale hunter on the sales team, but often requires cross-discipline participation in order to close; this includes assistance from operations, engineering, creative, client success, and business development teams.

"Shit...the sales director chewed me out on the sales call this morning. He's totally pissed that I have nothing in my pipeline. I've been focused on this one whale for so long that I haven't had time to prospect for normal-sized deals."

Whale by FQ_GFY February 3, 2020

Word of the Day on September 21, 2026

Concrete cowboy

A guy who thinks he's a country kinda guy, but in reality lives a comfortable city / suburban life.

Eugene: Look at that dude in the cowboy hat!
Todd: He's just a concrete cowboy.

Concrete cowboy by EugeneJohnson42000 March 16, 2024

Word of the Day on September 20, 2026

hobo loko

any hard liquor that is cheap & potent.. eg. relska, popov, potters, evan williams, kamchatka, fireball, rumpleminze, southern comfort, everclear

hey let's get a drink of that?

go ahead
*takes drink* ugh wtf is that?

everclear & bepsi
fucking hobo loko eeessshh

hobo loko by d i z k o 2 0 8 September 14, 2026

Word of the Day on September 19, 2026

God Shot

A chance happening with profound meaning, an unexpected blessing, a "sign".

Dr. Drew on Celebrity Rehab said "All of a sudden what had been just another Hollywood proposal became for him an unexpected blessing, an opportunity for growth. In drug recovery language, that's called a "God shot."

God Shot by Imogen1564 February 25, 2011

Word of the Day on September 18, 2026