have/keep/put one's finger on the pulse of

:  to retain in one's possession or power

:  to refrain from granting, giving, or allowing

:  to have in control

:  the means or provisions by which one is kept

:  one that keeps or protects: such as

:  fortress, castle

:  to place in a specified position or relationship :  lay

:  to move in a specified direction

:  to send (something, such as a weapon or missile) into or through something :  thrust

:  a throw made with an overhand pushing motion

:  the act or an instance of putting the shot

:  an option to sell a specified amount of a security (such as a stock) or commodity (such as wheat) at a fixed price at or within a specified time — compare call 3d

:  being in place :  fixed, set

:  any of the five terminating members of the hand :  a digit of the forelimb

:  one other than the thumb

:  something that resembles a finger

:  to touch or feel with the fingers

:  to play (a musical instrument) with the fingers

:  to play (notes, chords, etc.) with a specific fingering

:  the edible seeds of various crops (such as peas, beans, or lentils) of the legume family

:  a plant yielding pulse

:  the regular expansion of an artery caused by the ejection of blood into the arterial system by the contractions of the heart

:  the palpable beat resulting from such pulse as detected in a superficial artery

:  the number of individual beats in a specified time period (such as one minute)

:  to exhibit a pulse or pulsation :  throb

:  to drive by or as if by a pulsation

:  to cause to pulsate