单词	touch
释义	touch1 verbtouch2 noun touchtouch1 /tʌtʃ/ ●●● S2 W2 verb Entry menu MENU FOR touchtouch1 feel2 no space between3 touch something to something4 affect somebody’s feelings5 have an effect6 use7 not touch something8 not touch somebody/something9 deal with somebody/something10 reach an amount11 hit/kick12 not touch something/somebody (with a bargepole)13 be touched with something14 expression15 relate to something16 light17 nothing/no one can touch somebody/something18 touch base (with somebody)19 touch bottomPhrasal verbstouch downtouch somebody for somethingtouch something offtouch on/upon somethingtouch somebody/something up Word Origin WORD ORIGINtouch1 Origin: 1200-1300 Old French tuchier, from Vulgar Latin toccare ‘to knock, hit a bell, touch’; from the sound Verb Table VERB TABLE touch Simple Form Present I, you, we, they touch he, she, it touches Past I, you, he, she, it, we, they touched Present perfect I, you, we, they have touched he, she, it has touched Past perfect I, you, he, she, it, we, they had touched Future I, you, he, she, it, we, they will touch Future perfect I, you, he, she, it, we, they will have touched Continuous Form Present I am touching he, she, it is touching you, we, they are touching Past I, he, she, it was touching you, we, they were touching Present perfect I, you, we, they have been touching he, she, it has been touching Past perfect I, you, he, she, it, we, they had been touching Future I, you, he, she, it, we, they will be touching Future perfect I, you, he, she, it, we, they will have been touching Examples EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES "What are you thinking?" she asked, touching his arm. A slight grin touched his face when he was told the news. Barry never lets anyone touch the piano. Don't touch that - the paint is still wet. Don't touch the plates - they're hot! Don't let the wires touch or you'll get a very bad shock. Every business Gibbons touches becomes successful. For room service, touch button 9. He drew me closer until our bodies were touching. He gently touched her hand and smiled. I'm sorry - I didn't mean to touch your sore arm. I cut my knee last week, and it still hurts if I touch it. Make sure the wires do not touch. Put the cards face down on the table so that the edges are touching. The pictures touched everyone present. The plane touched the speed of sound in a power dive. The plane came down so low that it's wings touched the trees. Their insults and criticism never seemed to touch him. Wash your hands thoroughly after touching raw meat. Yesterday, the dollar touched a seventeen-week high of 1.4748 marks. EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS He touched his bandaged wound where the shaved hair had started to grow back. It had lasted longer, but then she had still been touching him. Quickly he went to the wall safe at the far end of the room and touched the combination. Something outside her, mysterious and huge, put out a kindly exploring hand and touched her. The soft touching and smooching stirred him back to life. Theresa could touch the floor with her feet. They rolled up when I touched them, and tickled my fingers with their tiny legs. This is because the contacts bounce as they touch. Thesaurus THESAURUS► touch to put your fingers or hand onto someone or something for a very short time: · Don’t touch the iron – it’s hot! ► feel to touch something with your fingers in order to find out about it: · Feel how soft this material is.· I felt his forehead. It was cold. ► handle to touch something and pick it up and hold it in your hands: · Children should always wash their hands before handling food.· The glass was very fragile, and she handled it with great care.· Please do not handle the merchandise. ► finger to touch or handle something with your fingers, especially while you are thinking of other things: · She fingered the heavy necklace around her neck. ► rub to move your hand over a surface while pressing it: · Bob rubbed his eyes and yawned. ► scratch to rub part of your body with your nails, often because it itches: · The dog kept scratching its ear.· Bob scratched his head thoughtfully. ► tickle to move your fingers lightly over someone’s body in order to make them laugh: · The baby giggled as I tickled him. ► grope to touch someone’s body in a sexual way when they do not want to be touched: · The officer was accused of groping several women in his platoon. touch somebody gently or lovingly► stroke to move your hand gently over something, especially in a loving way: · She stroked the child’s hair.· Our cat won’t let people stroke him. ► pat to touch an animal or child lightly several times, with your hand flat: · He knelt down to pat the dog.· She patted the little boy’s head. ► pet to touch and move your hand gently over someone, especially an animal or child: · The goats, pigs, sheep, and cows here allow you to pet them. ► caress to gently touch a part of someone’s body in a loving way: · a mother caressing her child· She caressed his cheek. ► fondle to touch a part of someone’s body in a loving or sexual way – use this especially about touching someone in a sexual way that is not wanted: · He tried to fondle her and she immediately pulled away from him. Longman Language Activatorto put your hand on someone or something► touch to put your fingers or hand onto someone or something: · Don't touch the plates - they're hot!· I cut my knee last week, and it still hurts if I touch it.· Barry never lets anyone touch the piano.· "What are you thinking?" she asked, touching his arm. ► feel to touch something in order to find out how hard or soft, hot, cold etc it is: · Just feel this material - it's so soft!· The nurse felt his forehead to see if he had a fever.· "The flowers look so real - I can't believe they're silk," she said, feeling the petals. ► run your hand over/along/across/through etc to move your hand over something and feel the surface of it: · She ran her hand over the satiny black surface of the piano.· The man took off his cap and ran his hand through his thick brown hair.· I ran my hand along the wall, looking for a light switch. ► rub to move your hands or fingers quickly backwards and forwards over part of your body, while pressing down, especially in order to make a pain less severe: · Colin yawned and rubbed his eyes.· Could you rub my neck? It's really stiff.· Bill had fallen on the path and was rubbing his knee. ► scratch to rub your finger nails hard on part of your skin, for example because it itches: · Don't scratch - the rash will get infected.· He sat scratching his head, trying to think of the answer.· There's a spot in the middle of my back that itches - can you scratch it for me? ► fiddle with to hold something small in your hands and keep moving it around, especially because you are nervous or bored: · She fiddled nervously with her watch strap.· Stop fiddling with your toys and pay attention. to touch someone or something in a gentle or loving way► stroke to move your hand or fingers over part of someone's body in a gentle, loving way: · Miss Poole calmed herself by stroking the cat's fur.· Her mother sat beside her and stroked her forehead until she fell asleep again.· The old priest stroked his white beard as he listened. ► pat to touch someone lightly several times with the flat part of your hand, in order to comfort them or to show them that you are pleased: · "Don't worry," he said, patting her hand gently.· "The baby's due in March," Caroline said grinning and patting her stomach.pat somebody on the shoulder/arm/head etc: · She bent down and patted the dog on the head. ► tickle to run your fingers quickly and gently over a sensitive part of someone's body, in order to make them laugh: · I hate being tickled.· When I was little my older brother would tickle me till tears ran down my face. ► caress to move your hand or fingers gently over part of someone's body in a gentle, loving, or sexual way: · Barbara held the tiny baby close and caressed his cheek.· He began caressing her with a surprising gentleness. ► fondle to move your hand or fingers over a part of someone's body in a loving or sexual way - use this especially about touching someone in a sexual way that is not wanted: · He sat fondling her feet as she lay back in the armchair.· The women allege that top male executives routinely fondled female employees. to touch someone or something accidentally► touch · I'm sorry - I didn't mean to touch your sore arm.· The plane came down so low that it's wings touched the trees. ► come into contact to touch something, especially when something else happens immediately as a result: · When the two chemicals come into contact, they explode.come into contact with: · If the cleaner comes into contact with your eyes, rinse well with warm water and contact a doctor.· As many as 25 workers at the laboratory may have come into contact with the infected monkeys. ► brush to accidentally touch someone or something lightly when passing them: · The car brushed the hedges on both sides of the narrow lane.brush against: · I felt something brush against the back of my head.· As she passed, her bare arm brushed against his arm, sending a shiver down his spine. ► skim to touch something lightly when moving over it very quickly: · Seagulls skimmed the water, looking for fish.· He threw a flat stone and watched it skim the surface of the lake.· Planes skimmed the treetops as they flew in with tanks full of water to put out the fire. ► graze to touch something lightly when passing it, sometimes causing damage: · The bullet grazed the corner of the building, just missing my arm.· I just barely grazed her bumper, but she's claiming I wrecked her car. when two things are so close that they touch each other► touch · He drew me closer until our bodies were touching.· Don't let the wires touch or you'll get a very bad shock.· Put the cards face down on the table so that the edges are touching. what something feels like when you touch it► feel : feel feel adjective · The stones felt rough and warm under my feet.· My skin felt waxy and I wanted to bathe.feel like something · Good imitation leather looks and feels like the real thing. ► to the touch if something is cold, hard, soft etc to the touch , it feels cold, hard etc: · Cotton sheets are cool and smooth to the touch.· Water the soil when it becomes dry to the touch. · The dog's luxurious golden coat was thick and oily to the touch. ► texture the way the surface of something feels, especially how rough or smooth it feels: · The wood in the table had a lovely smooth texture.coarse/smooth/gritty etc in texture: · Cotton is coarser in texture than silk. what you say to tell someone not to touch something► don't touch spoken use this when you are telling someone, especially a child, not to touch something: · Don't touch! That's daddy's work.· Those glasses were very expensive. You can look but don't touch.· Don't touch the iron - it's hot.· How many times do I have to tell you - don't touch my things! ► leave something alone use this when you are telling someone not to touch something they are already touching: · That's a very delicate piece of equipment - please leave it alone.· Our neighbor would have cut the tree down if I hadn't told him to leave it alone. ► hands off spoken say this when you are angrily telling someone not to touch something, especially when they are trying to take it away: · Hands off my coat!get/take/keep your hands off something: · Get your hands off my car! to go down► go down to go down some stairs, a ladder, a slope etc: · You go down a steep slope, then turn left at the bottom of the hill.· Right, here's the ladder. Who's going down first?go down to: · I'll go down (=downstairs) to the kitchen and get you a glass of water. ► come down if a plane, bomb etc comes down somewhere, it comes down to the ground there, especially by accident: · Airline officials believe that the plane came down somewhere in the Andes mountains.· One of the missiles came down in a heavily populated suburb of Beirut. ► drop to fall straight downwards through the air: · When I let go of her hand, it dropped like a stone.drop onto/from/off etc: · The bottle rolled across the table, dropped onto the floor, and smashed.· One of your buttons has dropped off. ► fall to come down through the air from a higher place: · Just as we were about to leave the house, rain began to fall.fall from/down/on etc: · Leaves were falling from the trees.· Bombs fell on the streets, destroying neighbouring homes, but leaving the school intact. ► descend written to go down a slope, a mountain etc slowly and carefully: · Slowly the two climbers descended the cliff face.descend into/from etc: · We descended into the cave by a rope ladder. ► dive if a plane or a bird dives , it moves quickly down through the air: · The engine did not re-start, and the plane dived to the ground.· The hawk stopped in mid-flight before diving down on its prey. ► land if a plane or a bird lands , it comes down to the ground in a controlled way: · He loves watching planes take off and land at the airport.land in/on/at: · We will be landing at Singapore airport at 3 am local time.· A flock of Canada geese landed on the river in front of us. ► touch down if a plane touches down , it arrives safely on the ground at an airport but has not yet stopped moving: · The King's private plane touched down at Heathrow airport at exactly 12.15 this afternoon.· We will be touching down in about an hour's time. someone who never drinks alcohol► don't drink/doesn't drink · I'll have orange juice please. I don't drink.· Ben is the only one of my friends who doesn't drink. ► teetotaller British /teetotaler American someone who never drinks anything containing alcohol, often for religious or moral reasons: · He's recently become a strict teetotaller.· We're not teetotalers, but we recommend sensible drinking limits. ► not touch to not drink even a little of anything alcoholic, usually because you have decided to stop drinking alcohol: · I used to drink a bottle of whisky a week but I never touch it these days.not touch a drop: · "Rick hasn't touched a drop in years," said Mrs Marsden proudly. to eat small amounts of food► nibble to eat something by biting very small pieces: · The horse lowered his head and began to nibble the grass.nibble on/at: · We stood around drinking wine and nibbling on little snacks. ► pick at to eat only a small part of a meal, especially because you feel ill or unhappy: · I sat picking at my dinner, wishing I were somewhere else. ► hardly touch your food/dinner/meal etc to eat almost none of your dinner, meal etc: · Are you feeling okay? You've hardly touched your dinner.· We were so full by the time dessert came that we hardly touched it. things you say when hoping for good luck► touch wood British /knock on wood American spoken say this when you have been lucky up to now and you hope that you will not have any bad luck in the future: · I've never been in trouble with the police, touch wood.· We haven't missed a deadline yet, knock on wood. ► keep your fingers crossed spoken say this when you are hoping for good luck for yourself or for other people: · We're hoping Bill will be well enough to play in the next game - we're keeping our fingers crossed, anyway.keep your fingers crossed for: · She's having her operation tomorrow, so keep your fingers crossed for her. to mention someone or something► mention to say something about a person, plan, event etc, especially during a conversation, without giving any details or saying very much: · When you were talking to Barbara, did she mention her mother at all?· We didn't really discuss the price, but somebody mentioned a figure of £300.mention (that): · Eve mentioned that you might be looking for a temporary job.mention something to somebody: · She had started having nose bleeds, but when she mentioned this to her doctor, he told her not to worry.worth mentioning: · "Why didn't you tell me?" "It didn't seem worth mentioning."now (that) you mention it (=used to agree when someone has introduced a new subject): · Now that you mention it, I did think she was behaving a little strangely last night.mention something in passing (=mention something quickly, without spending much time on it): · Then he remembered that Liz had mentioned in passing that her father was a lawyer. ► refer to to say something about a person, plan, event etc in a conversation, speech, or piece of writing: · Although she didn't mention any names, everyone knew who she was referring to.· I apologized, and the matter was never referred to again.· I think what Mary was referring to earlier was her manager's inability to make the right decision. ► allude to formal to mention someone or something in a deliberately indirect way: · She has often alluded to a secret tragedy in her past.· When the director spoke of "major problems", I assumed that he was alluding to mechanical failures in the computer system. ► touch on to mention a subject or a fact during a speech, a lesson, a piece of writing etc, but without spending much time on it: · In my last lecture I touched on a number of important issues which I am now going to examine in some detail. ► throw in informal to mention something that is not closely connected with what you are saying, or that it is not necessary to mention: throw in something/throw something in : · He likes to throw in references to his days in the army. ► namedropping the practice of mentioning the names of famous or important people that you know or meet, in order to impress other people: · I hate the namedropping that is a feature of most autobiographies. to push something firmly, especially with your fingers► press to push something firmly with your fingers or with your feet. In American English push is usually used to describe what you do to buttons, bells etc: · The doctor gently pressed her stomach.· I pressed the brake pedal, but nothing happened.press something down: · She stuffed the papers back in the box and pressed the lid down.press a button/bell/key British (=in order to make a machine work, a bell ring etc): · Which key do I press to delete it?· To get coffee, put your money in the machine and press the green button. ► squeeze to push something firmly inwards by pressing on both sides of it, especially with your hands or fingers: · I squeezed the toothpaste tube, but nothing came out.· a horrible doll that cried when you squeezed itsqueeze something out of something: · I can't squeeze any more tomato paste out of this tube.squeeze somebody's arm/hand (=as a sign of love or friendship): · Alice squeezed my arm affectionately, and said goodbye. ► pinch to press someone's skin tightly between your fingers and thumb, so that it hurts: · Dad! Katy just pinched me! ► touch especially American to press a button, for example on a telephone or a computer screen, in order to make a choice, get information, or make something work - used especially in instructions: · For room service, touch button 9. ► knead to press a soft substance such as clay or dough (=a mixture of flour and water used to make bread) repeatedly with your hands: · She kneaded the dough and shaped it into loaves.· The clay should be kneaded thoroughly to remove any bubbles of air. when a number or amount reaches a particular level► reach if a number or amount reaches a particular level, it increases or decreases until it gets to that level: · Gold prices have reached their lowest level in 15 years.reach $500/100 mph etc: · Wind speeds reached over 100 mph in coastal districts.· The value of most houses in this area has reached over £200,000.reach a peak (=reach the highest level): · Inflation continued to rise, reaching a peak of 28%. ► hit to reach a very high or a very low level: · The temperature hit 40°C in parts of the country yesterday.· If sales continue to increase, output may hit the 500,000 mark this year.hit rock bottom (=reach an extremely low level): · Analysts say that the value of the Euro could hit rock bottom in the next few months.hit an all-time low/high (=reach the lowest or highest level ever): · As oil production increased, prices hit an all-time low. ► attain to reach a high level - use this in formal or technical contexts : attain a height/speed etc of something: · When migrating, birds may attain a height of three thousand metres or more.· The latest model is capable of attaining speeds in excess of 300 kph.attain a high of something: · Share prices attained a high of $3.27. ► touch to reach a high or a low level for a very short time: · The plane touched the speed of sound in a power dive.touch a high of something: · Yesterday, the dollar touched a seventeen-week high of 1.4748 marks. to refuse very firmly to accept or become involved in something► not have/want anything to do with to refuse to take part in an activity or get involved in something because you disapprove of it or think it will not work: · She said the idea was stupid and wouldn't have anything to do with it.· Most activists don't want anything to do with violent protests. ► turn your nose up at/turn up your nose at informal to refuse to accept something that someone offers you because you think it is not good enough for you: · Many older academics turn their noses up at subjects such as Media and Film studies.· He turned up his nose at a job washing dishes. ► I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole British /I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole American use this to say that you will definitely not accept something, buy something, or get involved in something: · My nephew wants me to invest in his business, but frankly I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.· Millions of people buy those cars, but I wouldn't touch one with a ten-foot pole. Collocations COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY► touch somebody on the arm/leg etc  A hand touched her on the shoulder. ► touched the hearts  Her plight has touched the hearts of people around the world. ► was ... touched by  He was often touched by doubt (=doubt affected him). ► never touch the stuff  My grandfather was an alcoholic but I never touch the stuff (=never drink alcohol). COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► add a touch of glamour/class (to something)  Champagne always adds a touch of glamour to the occasion. ► touched a drop  George hasn’t touched a drop (=drunk any alcohol) for years. ► gentle voice/smile/touch  ‘Where does it hurt?’ she asked in a gentle voice. ► somebody’s hand touches something · Daniel’s hand touched mine. ► a flash/trace/touch of humour (=a very small amount of humour)· She replied with a rare flash of humour. ► trace/hint/touch of irony  Wagner calls his program ‘the worst talk show in America,’ without a hint of irony. ► lose your touch (=become less skilled at doing something you used to do well) This latest movie proves Altman is by no means losing his touch. ► a touch of luxury (=something that makes something seem more pleasurable and comfortable)· Leather chairs added a touch of luxury to the room. ► touch up/fix your make-up (=put a little more make-up on after some has come off)· She went into the bathroom to touch up her makeup. ► a plane touches down (=lands safely on the ground)· As soon as the plane touched down on the runway, I felt better. ► lose touch with reality (=no longer know about ordinary things or what is possible)· If all you have is the show-business world, you kind of lose touch with reality. ► a touch of sadness  There was a touch of sadness in his voice (=he sounded a little sad). ► hint/trace/edge/touch of sarcasm  There was just a touch of sarcasm in her voice. ► a sense of smell/taste/touch etc · We lose some of the sense of taste as we get older. ► touch on a subject (=say or write a little about it)· In his speech, he touched on the subject of death. ► at the flick/touch of a switch (=very quickly and easily, with a switch)· The advantages of having electricity available at the flick of a switch are obvious. COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB► deeply · We were deeply touched to receive your love-gift sent with Ann Grant.· But he was also deeply touched that Mel was supplying him with attorneys.· It was the only present any of them was likely to receive and she was deeply touched.· Sethe was deeply touched by her sweet name; the remembrance of glittering headstone made her feel especially kindly toward her. ► down · And Gale was involved again as compatriot Ivan Henjak collected his kick ahead to touch down.· Huddersfield wrapped up the scoring when Dale Cardoza touched down.· In Escondido, a pilot reported seeing a funnel cloud, which would have become a tornado had it touched down.· It was forced to touch down at Killyhoy Beach, north west Donegal.· Six weeks ago the Hosic family touched down at Logan Airport, their hearts as heavy as their suitcases.· Fortunately a lone plane touched down, and took him off.· As my plane touches down in Naha, I am missing Charles, missing Ted, but resolved to enjoy myself. ► off · This stark view of what really matters has touched off a spirited debate and will occupy us in Chapter 5.· Sultan Abdul-Malik sacked Powlus as time ran out, touching off a wild celebration.· It also enhanced the national rivalries that would eventually touch off the First World War.· Her resolution followed a similar effort in the Oakland Unified School District that touched off a nationwide controversy.· Her allegations have touched off widespread criticism of Albert Hale in the Navajo Nation.· The change in instrumentation thus touched off an explosion of information. NOUN► arm · He pulled back her chair and Evelyn sat down, her shoulder touching his arm for a second.· Leaves brushed my face, a vine touched my arm and made me jump.· She jumped as he touched her arm.· She tended to jump like a nervous thoroughbred if he touched her arm or kissed her cheek.· He touched her arms, her shoulders; their hardness vanished.· Cranston touched him on the arm and pointed to the far corner, just past the huge gateway.· I feel moist breath on the back of my neck, and fingers touch my arm. ► ball · If a defending player has a loose lace and this touches the ball, may the attacking side drop for goal?· Napoleon Kaufman, making his third consecutive start, certainly wants to touch the ball more frequently.· Also the incident when he hacked their left winger in the box, he never touched the ball.· This was another night to greet Scottie Pippen with a constant chorus of boos every time he touched the ball.· Tortolano fed Weir and he touched the ball on to McGinlay, who ran through a porous home defence to score easily.· Terrell and I knew we would touch the ball a limited number of times.· O'Connell's header found Graham completely unmarked inside the penalty box but Goram did enough to touch the ball on to the bar.· The first-half, however, may be best remembered for what happened to a player who hardly touched the ball. ► cheek · Prominent projections of the bones can become sore to touch, especially the cheek bones.· He liked being next to her; he felt all the possibilities returning when he touched her cheek with his finger.· He was sleeping with one arm encircling his head, small podge of fingers just touching his cheek.· I reached out to touch its pale cheek.· Burun knelt behind her and touched her cheek with the back of his hand.· I reached up and touched his cheek.· She felt an icy wind howl over her, a graveyard stench enter her throat, a chill finger touch her cheek. ► chord · And, if I prefer House to Garden, it is because it both touches deeper chords and garners even greater laughs.· Clearly, what they do touches a chord in more than a few listeners.· Somewhere, he touched a chord in his son.· The book touches a highly sensitive chord. ► face · A breeze darted through the gap and touched his face.· We were to imagine a beautiful, white cloud gently touching our faces.· She rubbed her belly and touched her face tenderly, smearing the blood and pressing the shallow bite wound.· Arthur untied the head wrapping and touched my face, saying the swelling had already gone down a great deal.· He touched her face very tenderly and believed he felt warm flesh.· A makeup artist touched up the faces so photographs could be circulated and televised.· He touched his torn face and his lips drew back in a snarl.· Light moving air touched my face and drew my eyes to the south. ► finger · It's like an Electric Ballroom gig: rowdy, bawdy, hands outstretched, fingers touching, bodies crushing.· In another cupboard my fingers touched a bottle of something that smelled like vinegar, or vinegar concentrate.· The fingers touching the back of her neck were stronger now-the strokes bolder as though Baby Suggs were gathering strength.· Her fingers touched his hair, smoothing its fine silkiness, running against his scalp, the back of his neck.· Ask the client to hold the appropriate number of fingers elevated until you touch his or her hand.· He was sleeping with one arm encircling his head, small podge of fingers just touching his cheek. ► floor · Ron's little legs did not touch the floor.· She lies back across the bed, her feet touching the floor.· Squat thrusts Start from a crouched position with your hands touching the floor at either side of your feet.· Theresa could touch the floor with her feet.· As soon as your feet touch the floor behind you, spring back to the starting position and repeat.· He never allowed his hands, his striped short pants or anything other than his polished shoes to touch the floor.· His head had slipped out of the supports and his hands almost touched the floor.· They walked softly, hardly letting their feet touch the floor. ► foot · His feet seemed hardly to touch the ground as the wind drove him up the slope.· I came home from school as I had arrived: fast, my feet barely touching the pavement.· Rising to his feet, he touched the light switch, dispelling the gathering gloom, before striding through to his office.· She lies back across the bed, her feet touching the floor.· The heel of your leading foot should touch the ground, just before the ball of the foot and toes.· They walked softly, hardly letting their feet touch the floor.· He did it nimbly, his feet scarcely touching the narrow steel treads.· When her feet touch down after the jump, she pushes off again. ► ground · His feet seemed hardly to touch the ground as the wind drove him up the slope.· Witnesses swear that as fast as the line drive hit the wall, Rivera was rounding second before it touched the ground.· As soon as any kite touches the ground it is eliminated.· When exposed to direct light the leaves collapse and touch the ground and the plant dies.· He was so low that a wing-tip touched the ground, causing a ground loop.· Sometimes a heel would touch ground first, other times it would be a toe, or an arch. ► hair · Her fingers touched his hair, smoothing its fine silkiness, running against his scalp, the back of his neck.· He can not restrain himself from touching my hair, my body, my face, no matter how public the place.· Eochaid's hand, still marked with ink, touched his hair, and he received Eochaid's blessing.· Another student asked if he could touch his hair.· She is swept away, four people touching her hair and costume.· The daughters pressed around her, cooed to her, kissed her hands, hugged her, touched her hair.· He wanted to touch John's hair.· She would touch her hair then fiddle with her hat and pretend to straighten her dress. ► hand · As I lifted Becky she raised her hand and touched the statue.· Even her hands were touching something pleasant - silky, soft; she moved her fingers luxuriously, then slowly consciousness returned.· When his hand touched the elevator signal it touched off the tiniest spark of static electricity.· He reached out and his hand touched rough-grained wood.· Electric currents spread from each spot his hands touched.· His beastly gloating hands touching me.· Her hand touched the compress on his head tentatively. ► heart · That despairing bleat touched a heart she hadn't been sure still existed.· The test of its substance is the right to differ as to things that touch the heart of the existing order.· Shiona felt a cold hand touch her heart.· George Burns' sense of timing and captivating smile touched the hearts and funny bones of more than three generations.· He touched he heart, awakening the love, stirring the pain.· He wanted her to be permanent, an edifice whose piles touched the heart of the earth.· Peace on Earth as he lets his light shine, he touched my heart and now he's mine.· It was enough to touch my heart. ► leg · Ron's little legs did not touch the floor.· Deborah and I washed the dishes, then sat beside each other at the kitchen table, our legs almost touching.· Bend your left knee, extend your right leg and touch your right elbow on to your left knee.· Charles rocked with the motion of the coach, falling gently against Sarah, their shoulders and legs continually touching.· Since those legs happen to be touching the ground, the body moves forward.· They are lying side by side, their legs touching. ► lip · And it was no wonder that she hadn't touched his lips with hers.· During these efforts, her fleshy nose could touch her lips.· A bitter smile touched his lips at that, for hadn't Grainne long since been lost?· He tasted warm wetness on his tongue and touched his lip and took away a bloodied finger.· Disappointment! dash not from my trembling hand the bowl which almost touches my lips.· The pink tip of a tongue touched her pale lips.· Boris touched his lips then looked at the smear of blood on his hand. ► nerve · Although this memorandum was immediately denounced and repudiated, there is no doubt that it touched some sensitive nerves.· The theatrical farce touches a nerve.· The death of Phyllis Henley touched these nerves into life.· I had finally touched a nerve.· Our article touched a raw nerve.· The subject of hawkers had touched a raw nerve.· It was easy, therefore, to touch the sensitive nerve of nationalism.· The wide current appeal of such music seems to touch a nerve of communal masochism. ► plane · Fortunately a lone plane touched down, and took him off.· As my plane touches down in Naha, I am missing Charles, missing Ted, but resolved to enjoy myself.· The plane touches down at John Wayne Airport, named after the Western star.· Always work on a earthed surface and touch the ground plane before touching any components.· At one stage, fourteen planes touched down in the space of a minute. ► shoulder · Another step back, and the back of Ace's head touched Daak's shoulder.· Evening came and the man touched her shoulder.· Presently Wexford moved over to her and touched her shoulder.· Ruth touched his shoulder and turned back to the stove.· He went up to her and touched her shoulder awkwardly.· Phagu chuckled at me through the window and touched me on the shoulder.· Rain touched her shoulder, pressed her back into the chair for fear of a repetition of the scenes in the kitchen.· He touched her shoulder, and her upper arm, and the inside of her elbow. ► toe · Bend from the waist, with your arms still straight, and touch your toes.· Can you touch your toes while keeping your legs straight?· Slowly lean over with both arms to try to touch the toe of your outstretched foot. VERB► let · He lets waste bits of paper pile up in his room - he won't let me touch them.· Indeed, the old Witch never touched water, nor ever let water touch her in any way.· Have you let him touch your soul?· He was still shy enough not to let anyone touch him, and he scuttled away if you got too close.· The water was fine, as long as you didn't drink it or let it touch your skin.· Boysie never let anybody touch his flute, not even me or Sylvie.· At one point she let her shoulder touch Clare's arm, to be sure that he was really there.· They walked softly, hardly letting their feet touch the floor. ► reach · But Neil Fraser couldn't reach out and touch his wife.· I reached up and touched his cheek.· He reached over to touch my wrist, and his look was tender.· She reached over now and touched his cold rigid hand.· When she thought no one was looking, she reached out and touched his hand and her eyes were soft and inviting.· She reached out and touched his arm reassuringly.· If she reached out to touch him, would he vanish like a ghost?· But basically I need to reach down and touch myself. ► want · Once again, everyone wanted a glimpse of Diana, everyone wanted to touch her.· She wanted to touch them with her music, words, make them aware of their woman-ness.· Where the Sales Department insists on selling to people we wouldn't want to touch with a barge pole!· No one wanted to touch the little chapel.· I want to touch you the way no man has ever touched you.· Though admonished not to by the funeral director, I want to touch her.· I want you to touch me, trail your mouth from my toes to my eyes.· You never want me to touch you. Phrases PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► not touch somebody/something► not touch something/somebody (with a bargepole) Dole says he will not touch Medicare, and he wants to throw more money at the Pentagon. I reached out to feel your forehead, but you burned so hot I could not touch you with my bare hands. If you have a chest, head or abdominal wound, keep as quiet as possible - do not touch the wound. Its theory is both rigorous and self-consistent and has provided descriptions of many aspects which structural grammar did not touch upon. So if he got on the stand, Harvester could not touch him. The meter and service pipe should not touch or be close to any electrical conduit or apparatus. They do not touch every topic, nor every region. You can't hate what you can not touch, I can't even feel what most people think of as despair. ► be touched with something He had aged: his hair was touched with grey, and his face was haggard. Short & Curly were touched with genius but split up when double acts went out of vogue. ► nothing/no one can touch somebody/something► touch base (with somebody) I just wanted to touch base with you. ► touch bottom The lake was too deep for their long poles to touch bottom. Convictions have hardened, for better for worse, and the floaters have touched bottom. ► touch something to something► not touch something Curt doesn't let anyone touch his golf clubs. There's stack of mail on his desk that hasn't been touched. What's wrong? You've haven't touched your dinner. PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► touch base (with somebody) It's important to touch base with our allies in this issue. I just wanted to touch base with you. ► at/with the push/touch of a button► strike/touch a chord (with somebody) Clearly, what they do touches a chord in more than a few listeners. Her language may be a bit highbrow, but it strikes a chord with many of Britain's state school heads. His declarations have struck a chord on both sides of the House. Obviously, their messages have struck a chord among voters in Arizona and New Hampshire. One young man of John's age wrote to say that the pointlessness of his captivity had struck a chord with him. Somewhere, he touched a chord in his son. The film was immensely popular and had so clearly struck a chord that Hammer carried out a rethink of its production policy. The plight of Gerald McClellan struck a chord in Jones. ► keep in close contact/touch Even after Charles married Princess Diana he kept in close contact with Camilla. He had not kept in close touch with the performers who had danced in his first little group. I am keen to keep in close touch with you on this subject. I take that point and we are keeping in close contact with local authorities. I urge my hon. Friend to keep in close touch to make sure that response times are up to the charter. In practice, I keep in close touch with the work of the foundation. The Society is keeping in close touch with the appropriate authority and full information will be published as soon as possible. To monitor their responses we have kept in close touch with each family's health visitor. ► common touch Wilson's critics say his handling of the deal shows he has lost his common touch. ► put/add the finishing touches (to something) Barry returned the next day to add the finishing touches. Its warmth and richness will add the finishing touches that are all important to the dress of your dreams. The band are currently putting the finishing touches to their third album, which should be out early in the summer. The birds whose selective predation put the finishing touches to their evolution must, at least collectively, have had excellently good vision. The more exacting you are in putting the finishing touches to the picture, the better the result will be. We can put the finishing touches to your programme. With most members of the task force now dismissed, Mr Magaziner is putting the finishing touches to his report. ► tug/touch your forelock► not harm/touch a hair of/on somebody’s head► a/the human touch Remember, people are interested in people not politics and the best campaign moments are those with a human touch. Science can have a human touch. Sir Peter Parker who he replaced will always be remembered as an enthusiastic chairman with a human touch. ► kick something into touch He would always kick it back into play whereas Lukic, more often than not, would kick it into touch. When a penalty is kicked directly into touch the same team will have the throw-in. ► lose touch (with somebody/something) A lot of producers have lost touch with what makes good music. Over the years we just lost touch with each other. Command economies are usually so centralized that they lose touch with the differences and complexities of individual firms and consumers. De Lavallade drifted away from Alvin, although they never completely lost touch. Employees and their managers lost touch with their customers and fiefdoms arose. I was begin-ning to lose touch with my body, floating away to distant places. It is also very easy to lose touch. Salibi says that the Massoretes had lost touch with the language of the Bible and made many distortions. She said she had lost touch with him. Those who pay for education, for example, may lose touch with what is taught and with the methods used. ► magic touch And not even Glen Hoddle's magic touch could save the day. But his magic touch is not easily duplicated, nor, for that matter, often approached. Carlo said I had a magic touch, I can make anything grow. He had a magic touch on the string that jerked its engine into rather terrifying life. Owen Pickard was the man with the magic touch. They feel that the new aid has failed, or that they have failed to find the magic touch in using it. ► the Midas touch Pavarotti is a unique performer with the Midas touch. ► touch/hit a (raw) nerve I had finally touched a nerve. Our article touched a raw nerve. Q: Why has that era hit a nerve with people now? The charge has hit a nerve, persuading the company to earmark 265 Levantine buildings for special restoration. The subject of hawkers had touched a raw nerve. The theatrical farce touches a nerve. The wide current appeal of such music seems to touch a nerve of communal masochism. They also touched a nerve of public anxiety. ► personal touch At this stage we are concerned with the personal touch; self-completed questionnaires will be dealt with later. But other customers prefer to write the messages themselves, for more of a personal touch. Despite the tight squeeze, the office has graced Borrego Springs with a personal touch over the decades. Family photos and a clock that tells time backward add a personal touch to the sterile academic atmosphere. I think people appreciate that personal touch. Reagan resorted to the personal touch as a matter of instinct and long practice. Steve, a believer in the personal touch, made their day by laying on their favourite drink, chilled Guinness. To be successful the hotel will provide a friendly atmosphere, good service and the personal touch. ► touch/hit a raw nerve Our article touched a raw nerve. The subject of hawkers had touched a raw nerve. ► catch/touch somebody on the raw She had the fleeting impression that she'd caught him on the raw. ► a soft touch Brad knew I was a soft touch. Negotiators will need a soft touch and strong nerves. And he knew I was a soft touch, that I did most of the housework so he could be free. Artisans needed more than just fertile imaginations and a soft touch with a trowel to bring their work to life. Cool for Cats at Stennis Head - a soft touch E15b. Leeds are a soft touch when it comes to transfers. Middlesbrough showed a resilience that emphasised they are no longer a soft touch on their travels. My client was a soft touch. Next to it goes a soft touch 6a, Cocoluche, which has an easily avoidable 6b section. Terry was such a soft touch. ► touch your toes Bend from the waist, with your arms still straight, and touch your toes. Can you touch your toes while keeping your legs straight? Then he would touch his toes twenty times. ► it’s touch-and-go► touch wood I've never been in trouble with the police, touch wood. We haven't missed a deadline yet, knock on wood. And I hope I don't - touch wood! I've just been lucky so far, touch wood. Male speaker Well we are a bit of a lively bunch but I haven't been banned yet ... touch wood! What is more, it might, touch wood, even be in a position to implement some of them. Word family WORD FAMILYadjectivetoucheduntouchedtouchingtouchyuntouchablenountouchuntouchableverbtouchadverbtouchingly 1feel [transitive] to put your hand, finger etc on someone or something:  She reached out to touch his arm. If your house has been burgled, you shouldn’t touch anything until the police arrive. ‘Don’t touch me!’ she yelled.touch somebody on the arm/leg etc A hand touched her on the shoulder.2no space between [intransitive, transitive] if two things touch, or one thing touches another thing, they reach each other so that there is no space between them:  As our glasses touched, he said ‘Cheers!’ Her dress was so long that it was touching the ground.GRAMMAR: Reciprocal verbsTouch is a reciprocal verb. This type of verb is used when saying that two or more people or things do something that involves both or all of them. It does not need to have an object: · Their hands touched. In this sentence, touch is intransitive and does not have an object.You can also say: · Their hands touched each other.· His hand touched hers. In these sentences, touch is transitive.Grammar guide ‒ VERBS3touch something to something literary to move something so that it reaches something else with no space between the two things:  She touched the handkerchief to her nose. He touched his lips to her hair.4affect somebody’s feelings [transitive] to affect someone’s emotions, especially by making them feel sympathy or sadness:  Her plight has touched the hearts of people around the world. She could sense his concern and it touched her. → touched, touching15have an effect [transitive] to have an effect on someone or something, especially by changing or influencing them:  He has touched the lives of many people. Unemployment remains an evil that touches the whole community. He was often touched by doubt (=doubt affected him).6use [transitive usually in negatives] to use or handle something:  The law doesn’t allow him to touch any of the money. It’s a long time since I’ve touched a piano.7not touch something a)to not eat or drink something:  What’s wrong? You’ve hardly touched your food. My grandfather was an alcoholic but I never touch the stuff (=never drink alcohol). b)to not deal with something that you should deal with:  I brought home loads of work, but I haven’t touched any of it yet.8not touch somebody/something to not hurt someone or not damage something:  The older boys swore they hadn’t touched the child. Parma had not been touched.9deal with somebody/something [transitive] to become involved with or deal with a particular problem, situation, or person:  He was the only lawyer who would touch the case. Everything he touches turns to disaster. No school would touch a teacher who had been convicted of assault.10reach an amount [transitive] especially British English to reach a particular amount or level:  At the time, the unemployment rate was touching 10 percent and rising.11hit/kick [transitive] British English to gently hit or kick a ball – used especially in reports of sports games:  Evans was just able to touch the ball away from Wilkinson.12not touch something/somebody (with a bargepole) British English, not touch something/somebody with a ten-foot pole American English used to say that you think someone or something is bad and people should not be involved with them:  I wouldn’t touch him with a bargepole. Financial analysts have warned investors not to touch these offers with a ten-foot pole.13be touched with something literary to have a small amount of a particular quality:  His voice was touched with the faintest of Italian accents. Her nails had been manicured and lightly touched with colour.14expression [transitive] if an expression such as a smile touches your face, your face has that expression for a short time:  A smile touched her lips.15relate to something [transitive] to be about or to deal with a particular subject, situation, or problem:  Though the question touched a new vein, Nelson answered promptly. The discourse touches many of the issues which are currently popular.16light [transitive] literary if light touches something, it shines on it:  The sun was just touching the tops of the mountains.17nothing/no one can touch somebody/something used for saying that nothing or no one is as good as a particular person or thing:  He describes the events with a passion that no other writer can touch.18touch base (with somebody) to talk to someone in order to find out how they are or what is happening:  I just wanted to touch base and make sure you hadn’t changed your mind about seeing me.19touch bottom a)to reach the ground at the bottom of a sea, river etc:  He swam down but could not touch bottom. b)to reach the lowest level or worst condition:  The housing market has touched bottom. → touch a (raw) nerve at nerve1(6), → touch wood at wood(3)THESAURUStouch to put your fingers or hand onto someone or something for a very short time: · Don’t touch the iron – it’s hot!feel to touch something with your fingers in order to find out about it: · Feel how soft this material is.· I felt his forehead. It was cold.handle to touch something and pick it up and hold it in your hands: · Children should always wash their hands before handling food.· The glass was very fragile, and she handled it with great care.· Please do not handle the merchandise.finger to touch or handle something with your fingers, especially while you are thinking of other things: · She fingered the heavy necklace around her neck.rub to move your hand over a surface while pressing it: · Bob rubbed his eyes and yawned.scratch to rub part of your body with your nails, often because it itches: · The dog kept scratching its ear.· Bob scratched his head thoughtfully.tickle to move your fingers lightly over someone’s body in order to make them laugh: · The baby giggled as I tickled him.grope to touch someone’s body in a sexual way when they do not want to be touched: · The officer was accused of groping several women in his platoon.touch somebody gently or lovinglystroke to move your hand gently over something, especially in a loving way: · She stroked the child’s hair.· Our cat won’t let people stroke him.pat to touch an animal or child lightly several times, with your hand flat: · He knelt down to pat the dog.· She patted the little boy’s head.pet to touch and move your hand gently over someone, especially an animal or child: · The goats, pigs, sheep, and cows here allow you to pet them.caress /kəˈres/ to gently touch a part of someone’s body in a loving way: · a mother caressing her child· She caressed his cheek.fondle to touch a part of someone’s body in a loving or sexual way – use this especially about touching someone in a sexual way that is not wanted: · He tried to fondle her and she immediately pulled away from him.touch down phrasal verb1when an aircraft touches down, it lands on the ground:  The plane finally touched down at Heathrow airport around midday.2in the sport of rugby, to score by putting the ball on the ground behind the other team’s goal linetouch somebody for something phrasal verb British English informal to persuade someone to give or lend you something, especially money:  He tried to touch me for the taxi fare home.touch something ↔ off phrasal verb to cause a difficult situation or violent events to begin:  It was these national rivalries that eventually touched off the First World War.touch on/upon something phrasal verb to mention a particular subject when talking or writing:  The report touches on the relationship between poverty and poor health. These issues were touched on in Chapter 2.touch somebody/something ↔ up phrasal verb1to improve something by changing it slightly or adding a little more to it:  She quickly touched up her lipstick. The photograph had obviously been touched up. The speech he finally gave had been touched up by his staff.2British English informal to touch someone in a sexual way when they do not want you to:  He was accused of touching up one of his students. touch1 verbtouch2 noun touchtouch2 ●●● S2 W2 noun Entry menu MENU FOR touchtouch1 touching somebody/something2 ability to feel things3 in touch (with somebody)4 be/keep/stay etc in touch (with something)5 be out of touch6 get in touch with something7 detail/addition8 way of doing something9 a touch of something10 a touch disappointed/faster/impatient etc11 with/at the touch of a button/key12 a soft/easy touch13 way something feels14 soccer/rugby Examples EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES Great service and a friendly staff give the hotel a personal touch. He felt a touch on his shoulder and saw it was Mrs. Lyden. Reid has a good touch for shooting the ball. The ice caves add a nice touch to what could have been a typical roller coaster. The soft touch of a clean cotton shirt was comforting. With the touch of a wrong button, she could ruin the whole program. EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS A small neat iron bed with a shabby well-washed coverlet had one lumpy pillow and sheets which were hard to the touch. Chance, coupled with rebellion and a touch of laziness. Despite the tight squeeze, the office has graced Borrego Springs with a personal touch over the decades. If the average middle class white schoolchild is out of touch with the literary standard, the minority child is doubly so. The affected areas look like orange-peel and are cold to the touch. Well, that couldn't last, because I'd found my touch, right? Thesaurus Longman Language Activatorto put your hand on someone or something► touch to put your fingers or hand onto someone or something: · Don't touch the plates - they're hot!· I cut my knee last week, and it still hurts if I touch it.· Barry never lets anyone touch the piano.· "What are you thinking?" she asked, touching his arm. ► feel to touch something in order to find out how hard or soft, hot, cold etc it is: · Just feel this material - it's so soft!· The nurse felt his forehead to see if he had a fever.· "The flowers look so real - I can't believe they're silk," she said, feeling the petals. ► run your hand over/along/across/through etc to move your hand over something and feel the surface of it: · She ran her hand over the satiny black surface of the piano.· The man took off his cap and ran his hand through his thick brown hair.· I ran my hand along the wall, looking for a light switch. ► rub to move your hands or fingers quickly backwards and forwards over part of your body, while pressing down, especially in order to make a pain less severe: · Colin yawned and rubbed his eyes.· Could you rub my neck? It's really stiff.· Bill had fallen on the path and was rubbing his knee. ► scratch to rub your finger nails hard on part of your skin, for example because it itches: · Don't scratch - the rash will get infected.· He sat scratching his head, trying to think of the answer.· There's a spot in the middle of my back that itches - can you scratch it for me? ► fiddle with to hold something small in your hands and keep moving it around, especially because you are nervous or bored: · She fiddled nervously with her watch strap.· Stop fiddling with your toys and pay attention. to touch someone or something in a gentle or loving way► stroke to move your hand or fingers over part of someone's body in a gentle, loving way: · Miss Poole calmed herself by stroking the cat's fur.· Her mother sat beside her and stroked her forehead until she fell asleep again.· The old priest stroked his white beard as he listened. ► pat to touch someone lightly several times with the flat part of your hand, in order to comfort them or to show them that you are pleased: · "Don't worry," he said, patting her hand gently.· "The baby's due in March," Caroline said grinning and patting her stomach.pat somebody on the shoulder/arm/head etc: · She bent down and patted the dog on the head. ► tickle to run your fingers quickly and gently over a sensitive part of someone's body, in order to make them laugh: · I hate being tickled.· When I was little my older brother would tickle me till tears ran down my face. ► caress to move your hand or fingers gently over part of someone's body in a gentle, loving, or sexual way: · Barbara held the tiny baby close and caressed his cheek.· He began caressing her with a surprising gentleness. ► fondle to move your hand or fingers over a part of someone's body in a loving or sexual way - use this especially about touching someone in a sexual way that is not wanted: · He sat fondling her feet as she lay back in the armchair.· The women allege that top male executives routinely fondled female employees. to touch someone or something accidentally► touch · I'm sorry - I didn't mean to touch your sore arm.· The plane came down so low that it's wings touched the trees. ► come into contact to touch something, especially when something else happens immediately as a result: · When the two chemicals come into contact, they explode.come into contact with: · If the cleaner comes into contact with your eyes, rinse well with warm water and contact a doctor.· As many as 25 workers at the laboratory may have come into contact with the infected monkeys. ► brush to accidentally touch someone or something lightly when passing them: · The car brushed the hedges on both sides of the narrow lane.brush against: · I felt something brush against the back of my head.· As she passed, her bare arm brushed against his arm, sending a shiver down his spine. ► skim to touch something lightly when moving over it very quickly: · Seagulls skimmed the water, looking for fish.· He threw a flat stone and watched it skim the surface of the lake.· Planes skimmed the treetops as they flew in with tanks full of water to put out the fire. ► graze to touch something lightly when passing it, sometimes causing damage: · The bullet grazed the corner of the building, just missing my arm.· I just barely grazed her bumper, but she's claiming I wrecked her car. when two things are so close that they touch each other► touch · He drew me closer until our bodies were touching.· Don't let the wires touch or you'll get a very bad shock.· Put the cards face down on the table so that the edges are touching. what something feels like when you touch it► feel : feel feel adjective · The stones felt rough and warm under my feet.· My skin felt waxy and I wanted to bathe.feel like something · Good imitation leather looks and feels like the real thing. ► to the touch if something is cold, hard, soft etc to the touch , it feels cold, hard etc: · Cotton sheets are cool and smooth to the touch.· Water the soil when it becomes dry to the touch. · The dog's luxurious golden coat was thick and oily to the touch. ► texture the way the surface of something feels, especially how rough or smooth it feels: · The wood in the table had a lovely smooth texture.coarse/smooth/gritty etc in texture: · Cotton is coarser in texture than silk. what you say to tell someone not to touch something► don't touch spoken use this when you are telling someone, especially a child, not to touch something: · Don't touch! That's daddy's work.· Those glasses were very expensive. You can look but don't touch.· Don't touch the iron - it's hot.· How many times do I have to tell you - don't touch my things! ► leave something alone use this when you are telling someone not to touch something they are already touching: · That's a very delicate piece of equipment - please leave it alone.· Our neighbor would have cut the tree down if I hadn't told him to leave it alone. ► hands off spoken say this when you are angrily telling someone not to touch something, especially when they are trying to take it away: · Hands off my coat!get/take/keep your hands off something: · Get your hands off my car! to write to, talk to, telephone etc someone► get in touch with to write to, telephone, email etc someone, especially someone you do not see very often: · I really ought to get in touch with Paula. It's been months since we last spoke.· I've been trying to get in touch with my sister for several days.· You can get in touch with me at home, or at the office if necessary. ► contact to write to, phone, email etc someone especially for the first time, in order to give or ask for information: · I was given the names of three government officials to contact.· After they received the bomb threat, school officials immediately contacted the police. ► get onto British spoken to phone, write to, email etc someone in order to complain, explain, or ask for something: · I'm afraid I can't help you. You'd better get onto the foreign office.· I'll get onto Eddy and see if I can find out what's going on. ► make contact with to succeed in contacting someone, especially when this is difficult: · The pilot finally managed to make contact with the control tower.· I've managed to make contact with most of the people on the list. ► approach to contact someone that you do not know or have not contacted before, in order to offer them something or ask them for something: · Nash has already been approached by several pro football teams.approach somebody about something: · The company confirmed that it had been approached about a merger. to no longer speak to or write to someone► lose touch to not speak to, write to, or see someone for a long time, so that finally you do not know where they are or what they are doing: · It's sad, but Wendy and I have lost touch.lose touch with: · After Jason moved to Utah, I lost touch with him. ► lose contact to no longer be able to contact someone by radio or electronic signals, as a result of technical problems: lose contact with: · Air traffic control say they've lost contact with the plane. to have nearly finished something► be nearly finished/done/through especially British also be almost finished/done/through · I'm nearly finished -- I just want to put these files away.· Are you almost done in the shower?· Just give me a couple more minutes. I'm nearly through. ► be on the last lap/in the home stretch to have almost finished something, especially something that has taken a long time: · The election campaign is now on its last lap.· The regular season is in the home stretch, and the playoffs will soon begin. ► put the finishing touch/touches to British also put the finishing touch/touches on American to finish something by adding the last details, especially in order to make it look nice: · Sue's just putting the finishing touches to her make-up.· Painters are putting the finishing touches on the baseboards and railings.· The team are busy putting the finishing touches to the new design. ► finish off to finish something by adding the last parts or details: finish off something: · I came to work early this morning to finish off some urgent work for the boss.finish something off: · I usually partially cook steaks in the microwave and then finish them off on the grill. ► tie up the loose ends to finish a meeting, an agreement etc by dealing with all the details that remain: · If we can tie up the loose ends in the next ten minutes, we'll break for an early lunch.· Apart from a few loose ends that need to be tied up, everything has gone according to schedule. ► finalize also finalise British to do the last things that are necessary in order to settle an agreement, plan, or arrangement in a satisfactory way: · Mr Samuels is flying to Detroit to finalize the details and sign the contract.· The meeting has been postponed until travel arrangements can be finalized. a short illness► attack when you suddenly begin to have an illness that you often have, especially when this only continues for a short time: · One of my students suddenly had an attack of asthma and I didn't know what to do.· Malaria often doesn't go away completely, and a patient may suffer from repeated attacks over several years. ► a bout of a short period of suffering from an illness, especially one that is not serious: · In recent months he had had several bouts of flu.· The patient may experience bouts of nausea as a result of the treatment. ► a touch of informal a short period of suffering from an illness that is not serious: · It's nothing serious -- just a touch of indigestion.· I feel like I'm getting a touch of flu. to not know the most recent information about something► be out of touch someone who is out of touch with something used to know about it but does not now know the most recent information about it, because they have not read about it or been involved in it for a long time: · I don't know what kind of music kids listen to these days -- I'm really out of touch.be out of touch with: · The press accused MacGregor of being out of touch with the campaign he was supposed to be running. ► lose touch if you lose touch with a situation or a subject, you no longer know the latest information about it and are unable to understand what is happening in it: · I must do some teaching again -- I'm worried about losing touch.lose touch with: · The French President has lost touch with the reality of the political situation in France.· When you're living abroad, it's easy to lose touch with what's going on back home. ► lose track of if you lose track of something or someone, you no longer know where they are or what has happened to them: · I had the file on my desk a minute ago, but I seem to have lost track of it.· After the war they lost track of each other.· They fed us every twelve hours, but when you can't see the sun, you lose track of time. ► not be up on informal if you are not up on the latest fashions, music, or news, you do not know about them: · I spend most of my time in the woods of Wyoming these days, so I'm not really up on all the latest fashions and movies.· My dad's not really up on what kids think these days. a very small amount of something such as a feeling, quality etc► very little a very small amount, so that there is not enough to have an effect, be useful, important etc: · "How much do you know about computers?" "Very little, I'm afraid."very little trouble/patience/help etc: · I had very little energy left.· Changing the law will make very little difference.· It makes very little sense for companies to maintain large inventories these days. ► almost no such a small amount that you can hardly notice it: almost no trouble/patience/help etc: · Scientists have paid almost no attention to the new theory.· She supports the bill although she admits it has almost no chance of being passed.· The birth control campaign was begun 10 years ago but has had almost no impact in the rural areas.almost none: · "What progress have you made on your research project?" "Almost none." ► hardly/barely any also scarcely any especially British almost none at all: · She said she felt a lot of regret about leaving, but I felt hardly any at all.hardly any trouble/patience/help etc: · They closed down the whole department with barely any notice to the staff.· Mark is so lazy, he makes scarcely any effort to improve his work. ► a touch/hint/trace of something a very small amount of something, that you almost do not notice: · "Are you ready yet?" asked Hazel, with a touch of irritation in her voice.· For the first time a hint of tension had crept into their relationship.· After speaking to her for awhile, he began to detect a trace of a Southern accent. ► little formal a small amount, especially when you expect more: little trouble/patience/help etc: · Little progress was made during the negotiations.· The report offers little hope that the economy will improve any time soon.· There seems to be little chance of him coming home for Christmas. ► minimal a minimal amount of something is the smallest that is possible, so that it is not worth thinking or worrying about: · The new operating technique involves minimal risk to patients.· The impact of the sale on current employees should be minimal.· The crew had very little experience and were given minimal safety training. ► negligible a negligible amount of something is so small that it has almost no effect at all: · The damage done to his property was negligible.· Economists say raising the minimum wage would have a negligible effect on employment rates.· The chances of a healthy adult contracting the disease are negligible. ► next to nothing if you know, learn, say, hear etc next to nothing about something, then you know, learn etc very little about it: · I learned next to nothing at school - the teachers were awful.· My parents know next to nothing about the men I date. too easily persuaded by other people► be a pushover someone who is a pushover is very easy to persuade, and you can get them to do what you want them to do: · She's a kind and gentle person, but she's no pushover. ► be a soft touch to be someone who can be easily persuaded to give someone what they want, especially because you are too kind and sympathetic: · It's important that the kids don't think the teacher is a soft touch. ► naïve someone who is naïve is so young or inexperienced that they are likely to be easily persuaded to believe something: · I was so naïve - I believed everything the army told me about my husband's death.· She's either stupid or naïve if she thinks he really cares about her. ► gullible easily persuaded or tricked into believing that something is true: · It's easy to blame the public for being gullible enough to buy dieting products, but it's the companies who sell them who should take responsibility.· She was described by her neighbors as a sweet but gullible woman who allowed the man to live in her house as a source of extra money. ► impressionable someone who is impressionable , especially a young person, is easily influenced and can easily be persuaded to do things or to change their opinions: · Unfortunately, the show's message to millions of impressionable teens is that it's OK to take drugs.at an impressionable age (=when you are young and impressionable): · I've always wanted to do martial arts - maybe I saw too many Jackie Chan movies at an impressionable age. ► easily-led British someone who is easily-led does not have a strong character and can easily be persuaded to do things, even things that are wrong: · She's young and rather easily-led.· My son's rather easily-led and tends to get in with the wrong crowd at school. to write a letter or message► write to write someone a letter: · Sorry, I haven't had time to write.· Keith hasn't written for a while.write a letter/postcard etc to somebody: · I try to write a cheerful letter to her at least once a week.· We wrote about 20 postcards while we were in Greece.· I wasn't happy, so I wrote a nasty letter asking for my money back.write to: · He wrote to his father, asking for more money.write somebody American (=write a letter to someone): · I just wrote him saying how much I missed him being around.write back (=write a letter to someone after they have written one to you): · Why didn't you write back?write in (=to write and send a letter to an organization): · A lot of listeners wrote in and complained about the programme. ► write off to write a letter and send it in order to buy something, take part in a competition, have something sent to you etc: write off for something: · Write off today for your free Batman poster!write off to somebody: · I wrote off to Friends of the Earth and they sent me some leaflets. ► e-mail also email to send someone a message using the Internet: · Please e-mail your CV to the address below.e-mail somebody: · So, if you e-mail someone in California, you only pay local phone rates.e-mail somebody with something: · She e-mailed me with her new address, but I deleted it by mistake. ► drop somebody a line spoken informal to send someone a letter: · Why don't you give me a call or drop me a line sometime?· What do you think? Drop me a line at the Washington Post Weekend section and share your thoughts. ► get in touch with somebody to write to someone, or phone them, especially someone you have not seen or written to for a long time: · I'd love to get in touch with Monique again. Do you have her new address?· We help adopted children who want to get in touch with their natural parents. ► contact to write to someone that you do not know, or phone them, especially in order to ask for help or information: · Elsa contacted several companies to ask if they could offer her part-time work.· If the problem continues, try contacting a software expert. ► keep/stay in touch to continue to write to someone or phone them, when you no longer work with them or live near them: · I met Pia in Sweden and we've stayed in touch ever since.keep/stay in touch with: · Do you keep in touch with any of your friends from school? ► correspond formal to write letters to someone and receive letters from them, especially regularly: · They started to correspond two years ago. correspond with: · I'm a 21-year old Kenyan student who wishes to correspond with students from Britain or the US. WORD SETS► Human AB, nounabdomen, nounaccommodation, nounAchilles tendon, nounAdam's apple, nounadaptation, nounadenoids, nounadrenalin, nounairway, nounambidextrous, adjectiveanatomical, adjectiveankle, nounantibody, nounantigen, nounanus, nounanvil, nounaorta, nounappendix, nounarch, nounarmpit, nounarterial, adjectiveartery, nounatrium, nounbaby tooth, nounback, nounbackbone, nounbandy, adjectivebarrel-chested, adjectivebeat, verbbelly, nounbelly button, nounbicep, nounbig toe, nounbikini line, nounbile, nounbiological clock, nounbiorhythms, nounbiped, nounbladder, nounblind spot, nounblink, verbblink, nounblood count, nounblood group, nounblood pressure, nounbloodstream, nounblood type, nounblood vessel, nounBO, nounbody clock, nounbody odour, nounbone, nounbone marrow, nounbowel, nounbow legs, nounbrain, nounbrainwave, nounbreast, nounbreastbone, nounbristly, adjectivebronchial, adjectivebronchial tube, nounbrow, nounbuck teeth, nounbullnecked, adjectiveburp, verbbust, nounbuttock, nouncanine, nouncapillary, nouncardiac, adjectivecardio-, prefixcardiovascular, adjectivecarotid artery, nouncartilage, nouncentral nervous system, nouncerebellum, nouncerebral, adjectivecervical, adjectivecervix, nounchamber, nounchange of life, nouncheek, nouncheekbone, nounchest, nounchin, nouncirculation, nounclavicle, nouncleavage, nounclitoris, nounclose-set, adjectivecoccyx, nouncochlea, nouncock, nouncollarbone, nouncolon, nouncolour, nouncolour-blind, adjectiveconception, nouncone, nounconnective tissue, nouncoordination, nouncornea, nouncortex, nouncough, verbcough, nouncowlick, nouncranium, nouncrook, verbcrotch, nouncrow's feet, nouncrutch, nouncry, verbcuticle, noundandruff, noundeep-set, adjectivedefecate, verbdefence mechanism, noundental, adjectivedentine, nounderrière, noundiaphragm, noundigit, noundigital, adjectivedimple, noundisc, noundominant, adjectivedouble-jointed, adjectivedribble, verbdrool, verbduct, nounduodenum, nounear, nouneardrum, nounearhole, nounegg, nounejaculate, verbelbow, nounenamel, nounendocrine, adjectiveentrails, nounepidermis, nounepiglottis, nounerect, adjectiveerection, nounerogenous zone, nounexcrement, nounexcreta, nounexcrete, verbexcretion, nounexpectorate, verbextremity, nouneye, nouneyebrow, nouneyelash, nouneyelid, nouneyesight, nouneye tooth, nounface, nounfallopian tube, nounfart, verbfart, nounfemur, nounfibre, nounfibula, nounfigure, nounfingernail, nounfingertip, nounfist, nounfive o'clock shadow, nounflat-chested, adjectivefoetal position, nounfolic acid, nounfollicle, nounforearm, nounforefinger, nounforehead, nounforeskin, nounframe, nounfunny bone, noungall bladder, noungallstone, noungastric, adjectivegenital, adjectivegenitals, noungland, nounglottis, noungonad, noungrey matter, noungroin, nounG-spot, noungullet, noungum, nounhair, nounhairless, adjectivehairy, adjectivehammer, nounhamstring, nounhand, nounhand-eye co-ordination, nounhandlebar moustache, nounhead, nounheart, nounheel, nounhiccup, nounhiccup, verbhip, nounHomo sapiens, nounhumerus, nounhymen, nounimmune, adjectiveimmune system, nounimmunity, nouninbred, adjectiveincisor, nounindex finger, nouninherit, verbinstep, nounintestine, nounin vitro fertilization, nouniris, nounIVF, nounjaw, nounjawbone, nounjowl, nounkidney, nounknee, nounknee cap, nounknuckle, nounlap, nounlarge intestine, nounlarynx, nounlash, nounlaugh lines, nounlaughter lines, nounleft-handed, adjectivelefty, nounlens, nounlid, nounlifeblood, nounligament, nounlip, nounlittle finger, nounliver, nounlobe, nounlong-sighted, adjectivelumbar, adjectivelung, nounlymph, nounlymph node, nounmammary, adjectivemammary gland, nounmanual, adjectivemarrow, nounmasticate, verbmatrix, nounmelanin, nounmelatonin, nounmember, nounmenopause, nounmenses, nounmenstrual, adjectivemenstrual period, nounmenstruate, verbmiddle ear, nounmiddle finger, nounmidget, nounmidriff, nounmilk tooth, nounmind, nounmolar, nounmucous membrane, nounmuscle, nounnail, nounnape, nounnasal, adjectivenavel, nounnervous, adjectiveneurology, nounneuron, nounniacin, nounnipple, nounnode, nounnodule, nounnostril, nounocular, adjectiveoesophagus, nounoral, adjectiveovary, nounoverbite, nounoviduct, nounpalate, nounpalm, nounpalpitate, verbpalpitations, nounpancreas, nounpassage, nounpatella, nounpectorals, nounpelvic, adjectivepelvis, nounpenetrate, verbpepsin, nounperiod, nounperiod pain, nounperspiration, nounperspire, verbphallus, nounpharynx, nounphlegm, nounphysical, adjectivephysiognomy, nounphysiology, nounphysique, nounpigeon-toed, adjectivepit, nounpituitary, nounplacenta, nounplasma, nounplatelet, nounpore, nounpotbelly, nounpremenstrual, adjectiveprepubescent, adjectivepressure point, nounprimal, adjectiveprivate parts, nounprognathous, adjectiveprostate, nounpuberty, nounpubescent, adjectivepubic, adjectivepudendum, nounpulmonary, adjectivepulp, nounpulse, nounpupil, nounquad, nounquadruplet, nounquin, nounquintuplet, nounradius, nounreceptor, nounrecessive, adjectiverectal, adjectiverectum, nounred blood cell, nounREM sleep, nounrenal, adjectiveretina, nounRhesus factor, nounRH factor, nounrib, nounrib cage, nounright, adjectiveright-handed, adjectiveright-hander, nounrigor mortis, nounring finger, nounrod, nounRoman nose, nounround-shouldered, adjectiverun, verbsalivary gland, nounsallow, adjectivescalp, nounscaly, adjectivescapula, nounsciatic, adjectivescrotum, nounsemen, nounseminal, adjectivesense, nounsense organ, nounsensory, adjectivesextuplet, nounshank, nounshin, nounshinbone, nounshoulder, nounshoulder blade, nounside, nounsinew, nounsinus, nounskeletal, adjectiveskull, nounsleep, verbsleep, nounsmall intestine, nounsneeze, verbsneeze, nounsnub nose, nounsnub-nosed, adjectivesoft palate, nounsolar plexus, nounsole, nounsphincter, nounspinal, adjectivespinal column, nounspine, nounspit, verbspit, nounspittle, nounspleen, nounspotty, adjectivesputum, nounsternum, nounsteroid, nounstirrup, nounstomach, nounstool, nounstubble, nounsubcutaneous, adjectivesuck, verbsuckle, verbsuckling, nounsweat gland, nounsystem, nountailbone, nountan, verbtan, nountanned, adjectivetarsus, nountartar, nountaste bud, nountear, nounteardrop, nounteat, nountemple, nountendon, nountestes, nountesticle, nountestis, nountestosterone, nounthickset, adjectivethigh, nounthorax, nounthroat, nounthumb, nounthumbnail, nounthyroid, nountibia, nounticklish, adjectivetoe, nountoenail, nountongue, nountonsil, nountooth, nountorso, nountouch, nountrachea, nountriceps, nountrunk, nountympanum, nounulna, nounumbilical cord, nounurethra, nounuterus, nounuvula, nounvagina, nounvascular, adjectivevein, nounvenous, adjectiveventricle, nounvessel, nounvestibule, nounvital, adjectivevocal cords, nounvoice box, nounvulva, nounwaist, nounwall-eyed, adjectivewax, nounwhite, nounwhite blood cell, nounwindpipe, nounwisdom tooth, nounwomb, nounwrinkle, verbwrist, nounyawn, verbyawn, noun Collocations COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY► sense of touch  the sense of touch ► to the touch  Bake the cake for 30 minutes until risen and firm to the touch. ► get in touch  We’ll get in touch (=start talking or writing to you) as soon as we know the results of the test. ► get in touch with  Can I have your phone number in case I need to get in touch with you? ► be in touch  Bye. I’ll be in touch. ► Are ... in touch with  Are you still in touch with John (=are you talking to him regularly)? ► in close touch  I’m in close touch with Anna. ► stay/keep in touch (=keep writing or talking, even though you do not see each other often) Anyway, we must stay in touch. I met him when I worked in Madrid, and I’ve kept in touch with him ever since. ► lost touch with  I lost touch with (=stopped writing or talking to) Julie after we moved. ► put ... in touch with  I can put you in touch with a local photography club (=give you their address or phone number so you can talk to them). ► in close touch with  A head-teacher needs to remain in close touch with teachers’ everyday concerns. ► put the final/finishing touches to something  Emma was putting the finishing touches to the cake. ► a nice touch  There was a vase of flowers in the room, which was a nice touch. ► personal touch  Our staff combine efficient service with a personal touch (=they do things in a friendly way). ► feminine touch  The feminine touch was evident throughout the house. ► sure touch  His sure touch (=confident way of doing things) and attention to detail are just as evident now. ► magic touch  Barbara has a magic touch in the garden (=she grows things very well). ► lost ... touch  King obviously hasn’t lost his touch (=lost his ability) – his latest book sold in the millions. COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► add a touch of glamour/class (to something)  Champagne always adds a touch of glamour to the occasion. ► touched a drop  George hasn’t touched a drop (=drunk any alcohol) for years. ► gentle voice/smile/touch  ‘Where does it hurt?’ she asked in a gentle voice. ► somebody’s hand touches something · Daniel’s hand touched mine. ► a flash/trace/touch of humour (=a very small amount of humour)· She replied with a rare flash of humour. ► trace/hint/touch of irony  Wagner calls his program ‘the worst talk show in America,’ without a hint of irony. ► lose your touch (=become less skilled at doing something you used to do well) This latest movie proves Altman is by no means losing his touch. ► a touch of luxury (=something that makes something seem more pleasurable and comfortable)· Leather chairs added a touch of luxury to the room. ► touch up/fix your make-up (=put a little more make-up on after some has come off)· She went into the bathroom to touch up her makeup. ► a plane touches down (=lands safely on the ground)· As soon as the plane touched down on the runway, I felt better. ► lose touch with reality (=no longer know about ordinary things or what is possible)· If all you have is the show-business world, you kind of lose touch with reality. ► a touch of sadness  There was a touch of sadness in his voice (=he sounded a little sad). ► hint/trace/edge/touch of sarcasm  There was just a touch of sarcasm in her voice. ► a sense of smell/taste/touch etc · We lose some of the sense of taste as we get older. ► touch on a subject (=say or write a little about it)· In his speech, he touched on the subject of death. ► at the flick/touch of a switch (=very quickly and easily, with a switch)· The advantages of having electricity available at the flick of a switch are obvious. COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE► close · Sherfey thinks women need to be in closer touch with their life purpose of caring for the species.· He had not kept in close touch with the performers who had danced in his first little group.· He told Parmenter he would stay in close touch with Guy Banister.· To monitor their responses we have kept in close touch with each family's health visitor.· He's in close touch with his employees, knowing many of them by their first names.· Fifty years ago they were in closer touch.· McGuinness is more hard-line than Adams and reckoned to be in closer touch with the mood of die-hard republicans. ► feminine · The gentlemen appreciated all her feminine touches.· She was known for taking care of business with a feminine touch in the town too tough to die.· Today there is little sign of the feminine touch in the Cabinet at Westminster. ► final · Braintree started to control the midfield in the second half and only the final touch in the circle let them down.· Fresh berries for dessert add the final fresh touch.· Meanwhile, Hilary Murphy, who sets the questions, puts the final touches to Bob's board.· Domain loudspeakers leave the final touch of interior decorating to the buyer.· Fried onions make the final delectable touch.· A creamy green sauce, redolent of sweet pea and butter, provides the final touch.· Traditionally this was the time for artists to add the final touches.· The extreme naturalism with which his characters' thoughts and emotions were portrayed was the final inartistic touch. ► finishing · The floral display at Newcastle provided a delightful finishing touch.· A notice apologising for keeping visitors waiting and inviting them to look at the booklets adds the finishing touch.· The property has been recently constructed and is in the final stages of finishing touches.· The finishing touches are being put on a £800,000 new image for the once-neglected thoroughfare.· By the beginning of December, the finishing touches had been put to the apartment.· An individual finishing touch can come from your choice of shaped hemline, which could be angular, castellated or scalloped.· Boro threatened to run riot but could not provide the finishing touch.· Miele make kitchens Miele quality appliances have been putting the finishing touch to kitchens for years. ► gentle · A gentle touch on her cheek, then her arm.· Presently it felt the gentle touch of radiations, trying to probe its secrets.· And a gentle touch for the gentle dead.· He had a gentle touch, a musician's touch.· Sensitive skins need the gentle touch - Moistura fragrance Free products from Cyclax provide the perfect solution.· He might be all the rotters of the universe, but he had a gentle, magical touch with the child.· Pray that they would know the gentle touch of our Lord in their lives in the coming days.· They used the gentle touch to minimise the pressure on the 25-year-old woman following her horrific experience. ► human · The gap in the paper where it has been torn away from the seal is a desirable human touch rather than a blemish.· The human touch, the intuition and a more abstract conception of reality were now considered fundamental to art.· Science can have a human touch.· Sculpture adds that human touch to the garden.· Sir Peter Parker who he replaced will always be remembered as an enthusiastic chairman with a human touch.· Remember, people are interested in people not politics and the best campaign moments are those with a human touch. ► light · A novel about novel-writing, which handles its tricky subject with a light comic touch.· Some one had given his arm a light touch out of fear and respect.· Some instruments receive far more prominence than they do in more everyday tunes, others get merely the lightest, occasional touch.· There may be subjective numbness and slightly impaired pain and light touch sensation over the outer aspect of the foot. 3.· Does she love light touch or avoid it?· The clouds, sea and sky were permanent blue and light red with touches of Winsor blue.· She had made her point with as light a touch as she could manage. ► lost · Her husband watched her reading and finally lost touch with her.· They may have lost touch with their friends and have to start again to build up a new social circle.· The team lost touch with one another; the turning of a corner or moving through a door was enough.· Mrs McCourt was subsequently fostered and lost touch with her sisters. ► magic · Owen Pickard was the man with the magic touch.· But his magic touch is not easily duplicated, nor, for that matter, often approached.· He had a magic touch on the string that jerked its engine into rather terrifying life.· Carlo said I had a magic touch, I can make anything grow.· And not even Glen Hoddle's magic touch could save the day.· They feel that the new aid has failed, or that they have failed to find the magic touch in using it. ► nice · One nice touch lets you italicize and embolden text simply by highlighting it and clicking on one of the toolbox icons.· A little maple syrup, however, adds a nice touch.· I always think it was a nice touch.· This aesthetic presentation is a very nice touch in a meal already replete with interesting tastes dancing merrily across your palate.· A nice touch is that when you make a new entry in the database, it's saved automatically.· Pros: Ducking in and out of ice caves adds a nice touch to what could have been a typical roller coaster.· Leeds began brightly and there were some nice touches.· He had a nice touch, a good sense of how to execute his shots. ► personal · But other customers prefer to write the messages themselves, for more of a personal touch.· Despite the tight squeeze, the office has graced Borrego Springs with a personal touch over the decades.· To be successful the hotel will provide a friendly atmosphere, good service and the personal touch.· Reagan resorted to the personal touch as a matter of instinct and long practice.· Steve, a believer in the personal touch, made their day by laying on their favourite drink, chilled Guinness.· I think people appreciate that personal touch.· Family photos and a clock that tells time backward add a personal touch to the sterile academic atmosphere. ► soft · This makes the wings very soft to the touch and probably cuts down noise from feathers moving against one another during flight.· They were soft to the touch and easy to bend.· She trembled, wanting the soft touch of his mouth and his adoration.· And he knew I was a soft touch, that I did most of the housework so he could be free.· The material felt soft to her touch.· He was the softest touch in the world.· The only soft, welcoming touch is a black leather sofa. ► sure · Magona has a surer touch when narrating the sweep of history that builds up to create inevitable results.· Sometimes a leader with a seemingly sure touch for foreign policy turns ham-handed.· Vanessa had the surest touch decoratively and domestically.· And that, too, was Luke, she thought - the sure touch, the instinctive flair and selection. VERB► add · A notice apologising for keeping visitors waiting and inviting them to look at the booklets adds the finishing touch.· Fresh berries for dessert add the final fresh touch.· Decorative rope-top edgings in terracotta contain the borders and ball-topped corner posts add an extra finishing touch.· For that added romantic touch, the subway lights had been dimmed on the first two cars.· Leather and brass fittings add a touch of luxury.· It added a special touch to our telethon.· Barry returned the next day to add the finishing touches.· Pros: Ducking in and out of ice caves adds a nice touch to what could have been a typical roller coaster. ► bring · It brings us into touch with levels of ourself untouched hitherto, and so it has a profound esoteric significance.· And who knows, it may even bring a touch of glamour to the streets of Harlesden.· It can enhance creativity, as it brings us into touch with elemental emotions.· The late afternoon slid into night, bringing a touch of frost and sapping the last of warmth and cheerfulness.· And streets ahead ... Bonnie brings a touch of magic to a Broadway favourite. ► feel · He felt a touch on his shoulder.· People feel out of touch with one another and with the organization.· She was unaware that anyone had approached until she felt a touch on one of the vertebra of her spine.· At last he was naked and she felt the rough touch of his skin slide over her, bearing her down.· Standing at the bar, Langford felt a touch on his elbow.· They felt warm to the touch, slightly damp from Azmaveth's palms.· Was it self-deception or did she really feel warm to his touch? ► finish · He then supplied the finishing touch to a 32-pass move to seal victory.· Brown hopes to have the finishing touches done within 10 days.· Give your gifts a special finishing touch by making this sparkly gift wrap.· You may spot workers putting the finishing touches on the dome. ► get · Make sure they didn't get in touch.· He thought that we get in touch with the world and others through meaningful work.· If you are out there, get in touch!· Then get in touch with me.· Marcus Hannaford got the final touch down.· Be still for a moment to get in touch with your own breathing.· HomePro.com HomePro aims to make it easier for homeowners to get in touch with true trade professionals.· The majority tell visitors how to get in touch with their elected representatives. ► keep · It keeps me in touch and helps the section.· The idea was to hang together, keep in touch with the audience and maybe make a few bucks.· Over the years, she said, they kept in touch by telephone and brief, occasional backstage visits at concerts.· We've been flying here since September, but our wives have regularly sent out Country Living to keep us in touch.· Yeah, I love you too. Keep in fucken touch.· The way to keep in touch!· The Glicksteins visit every place they mention and keep in touch in person and via feedback from other guests. ► kick · He would always kick it back into play whereas Lukic, more often than not, would kick it into touch.· Of course, the argument was kicked into touch by the Church.· When a penalty is kicked directly into touch the same team will have the throw-in.· Some are easy rambles but others should kick into touch the idea that valleys are easy options.· But Souness has firmly kicked into touch suggestions that Wright will be sacrificed to make way for any newcomer.· I gather that that issue has now been kicked into touch. ► lose · It is also very easy to lose touch.· I was begin-ning to lose touch with my body, floating away to distant places.· Alfred Anderson lost touch with the two men when he left the island in 1959.· De Lavallade drifted away from Alvin, although they never completely lost touch.· Yet, for the moment anyway, the bankers have lost their Midas touch.· Talk about guys who have lost touch with the game.· As if we are losing our touch.· He also agreed to start contacting some of his old friends whom he had lost touch with when he became unemployed. ► put · Meanwhile, Hilary Murphy, who sets the questions, puts the final touches to Bob's board.· Reach out and put the touch on some one.· Dyer was almost over for a try but put a foot in touch at the corner flag spoiled the effort.· You know, put in the Williams touch.· Perhaps one of Alfa Romeo's race engineers put him in touch with Enzo Ferrari?· And they put young people in touch with adult role models who can help ease the shift into adulthood.· They can put students in touch with teachers, regardless of the geographic location of either.· Another collector got in touch, who put him in touch with another, and so on. ► stay · As the rugby people say, don't hang about on the side-lines, stay in touch.· We promise to stay in touch.· People still want to have the social contact that work offers, and want to stay in regular touch with their co-workers.· We go skiing, stay in touch.· I have since then stayed in as close touch as seems safe.· Underneath it all was the desire to stay in touch with Sophie.· He saw Luke now and then: just to stay in touch.· I want you to stay in touch. Phrases PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► get in touch with something I'm finally able to get in touch with who I am. Be still for a moment to get in touch with your own breathing. He thought that we get in touch with the world and others through meaningful work. He tried to get in touch with Spider. HomePro.com HomePro aims to make it easier for homeowners to get in touch with true trade professionals. Insurance companies can get in touch with the site and negotiate a price for their return. Is that getting in touch with nature? No-one could get in touch with you. Then get in touch with me. ► a touch of something All this room needs is a touch of paint. I think I've got a touch of the flu. Do you detect a touch of moral fervour rippling its unsightly way across the normally limpid Weltanschauung of Oliver Russell? I always treated the reports with a touch of caution. In everything he did there was a touch of charisma, and, following everything he did, a nagging doubt. Max Baucus, will survive this plunge, albeit with a touch of fear. One gardenia casts a pleasant scent, but hundreds of gardenias can, for some, prompt a touch of nausea. This melancholy contrast brought to our Southern sensibilities a touch of sadness. With more than a touch of relief, she thought he was about to go. ► a touch disappointed/faster/impatient etc He was fond of the man who fretted beside him, and a touch impatient with him too. ► with/at the touch of a button/key A customer uses her remote control to shop different channels with the touch of a button. An oil dispensing massage head dispenses oil at the touch of a button to give a smooth, drag free massage. At the touch of a button a huge gate opens and I am confined in a small area between fences. At the touch of a button they can still be made to disappear. Jet start operates for 30 seconds at the touch of a button. Letters, words or whole lines can be deleted and new texts inserted at the touch of a button. Up to ten needles can be operated separately by computer programme producing endless designs and colourways at the touch of a button. You can add categories and recipes at the touch of a button. ► a soft/easy touch And he knew I was a soft touch, that I did most of the housework so he could be free. Artisans needed more than just fertile imaginations and a soft touch with a trowel to bring their work to life. Cool for Cats at Stennis Head - a soft touch E15b. Leeds are a soft touch when it comes to transfers. Middlesbrough showed a resilience that emphasised they are no longer a soft touch on their travels. My client was a soft touch. Next to it goes a soft touch 6a, Cocoluche, which has an easily avoidable 6b section. Terry was such a soft touch. ► in touch (with somebody) I made a lot of new friends, some of whom are still in touch. Lots of traveling dads and moms are now using e-mail to stay in touch. Over the years, we kept in touch by telephone and he was a faultless correspondent. Promised her he would be in touch, and to be with her for the birth of their baby. Tell your people who I am, that I will be in touch, I will be waiting. The few people I treasure were in touch and I told them exactly what was wrong. Underneath it all was the desire to stay in touch with Sophie. Watching us, our children learn that people write to keep in touch, and that letters are usually answered. ► be/keep/stay etc in touch (with something) But Letitia stayed in touch, and together, sadly as it turned out, they had found family member Number Three. EASY-TO-USE Paging is a simple but fast way to keep in touch. I want you to stay in touch. Lots of traveling dads and moms are now using e-mail to stay in touch. One friend, a lawyer, swears by e-mail because it helps her keep in touch with far-flung friends. The idea was to hang together, keep in touch with the audience and maybe make a few bucks. They had been classmates as undergraduates at City College of New York and had always stayed in touch. We may have to be in touch again. ► be out of touch I don't know what kind of music kids listen to these days -- I'm really out of touch. The press accused MacGregor of being out of touch with the campaign he was supposed to be running. If the average middle class white schoolchild is out of touch with the literary standard, the minority child is doubly so. PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► touch base (with somebody) It's important to touch base with our allies in this issue. I just wanted to touch base with you. ► at/with the push/touch of a button► strike/touch a chord (with somebody) Clearly, what they do touches a chord in more than a few listeners. Her language may be a bit highbrow, but it strikes a chord with many of Britain's state school heads. His declarations have struck a chord on both sides of the House. Obviously, their messages have struck a chord among voters in Arizona and New Hampshire. One young man of John's age wrote to say that the pointlessness of his captivity had struck a chord with him. Somewhere, he touched a chord in his son. The film was immensely popular and had so clearly struck a chord that Hammer carried out a rethink of its production policy. The plight of Gerald McClellan struck a chord in Jones. ► keep in close contact/touch Even after Charles married Princess Diana he kept in close contact with Camilla. He had not kept in close touch with the performers who had danced in his first little group. I am keen to keep in close touch with you on this subject. I take that point and we are keeping in close contact with local authorities. I urge my hon. Friend to keep in close touch to make sure that response times are up to the charter. In practice, I keep in close touch with the work of the foundation. The Society is keeping in close touch with the appropriate authority and full information will be published as soon as possible. To monitor their responses we have kept in close touch with each family's health visitor. ► common touch Wilson's critics say his handling of the deal shows he has lost his common touch. ► put/add the finishing touches (to something) Barry returned the next day to add the finishing touches. Its warmth and richness will add the finishing touches that are all important to the dress of your dreams. The band are currently putting the finishing touches to their third album, which should be out early in the summer. The birds whose selective predation put the finishing touches to their evolution must, at least collectively, have had excellently good vision. The more exacting you are in putting the finishing touches to the picture, the better the result will be. We can put the finishing touches to your programme. With most members of the task force now dismissed, Mr Magaziner is putting the finishing touches to his report. ► tug/touch your forelock► not harm/touch a hair of/on somebody’s head► a/the human touch Remember, people are interested in people not politics and the best campaign moments are those with a human touch. Science can have a human touch. Sir Peter Parker who he replaced will always be remembered as an enthusiastic chairman with a human touch. ► kick something into touch He would always kick it back into play whereas Lukic, more often than not, would kick it into touch. When a penalty is kicked directly into touch the same team will have the throw-in. ► lose touch (with somebody/something) A lot of producers have lost touch with what makes good music. Over the years we just lost touch with each other. Command economies are usually so centralized that they lose touch with the differences and complexities of individual firms and consumers. De Lavallade drifted away from Alvin, although they never completely lost touch. Employees and their managers lost touch with their customers and fiefdoms arose. I was begin-ning to lose touch with my body, floating away to distant places. It is also very easy to lose touch. Salibi says that the Massoretes had lost touch with the language of the Bible and made many distortions. She said she had lost touch with him. Those who pay for education, for example, may lose touch with what is taught and with the methods used. ► magic touch And not even Glen Hoddle's magic touch could save the day. But his magic touch is not easily duplicated, nor, for that matter, often approached. Carlo said I had a magic touch, I can make anything grow. He had a magic touch on the string that jerked its engine into rather terrifying life. Owen Pickard was the man with the magic touch. They feel that the new aid has failed, or that they have failed to find the magic touch in using it. ► the Midas touch Pavarotti is a unique performer with the Midas touch. ► touch/hit a (raw) nerve I had finally touched a nerve. Our article touched a raw nerve. Q: Why has that era hit a nerve with people now? The charge has hit a nerve, persuading the company to earmark 265 Levantine buildings for special restoration. The subject of hawkers had touched a raw nerve. The theatrical farce touches a nerve. The wide current appeal of such music seems to touch a nerve of communal masochism. They also touched a nerve of public anxiety. ► personal touch At this stage we are concerned with the personal touch; self-completed questionnaires will be dealt with later. But other customers prefer to write the messages themselves, for more of a personal touch. Despite the tight squeeze, the office has graced Borrego Springs with a personal touch over the decades. Family photos and a clock that tells time backward add a personal touch to the sterile academic atmosphere. I think people appreciate that personal touch. Reagan resorted to the personal touch as a matter of instinct and long practice. Steve, a believer in the personal touch, made their day by laying on their favourite drink, chilled Guinness. To be successful the hotel will provide a friendly atmosphere, good service and the personal touch. ► touch/hit a raw nerve Our article touched a raw nerve. The subject of hawkers had touched a raw nerve. ► catch/touch somebody on the raw She had the fleeting impression that she'd caught him on the raw. ► a soft touch Brad knew I was a soft touch. Negotiators will need a soft touch and strong nerves. And he knew I was a soft touch, that I did most of the housework so he could be free. Artisans needed more than just fertile imaginations and a soft touch with a trowel to bring their work to life. Cool for Cats at Stennis Head - a soft touch E15b. Leeds are a soft touch when it comes to transfers. Middlesbrough showed a resilience that emphasised they are no longer a soft touch on their travels. My client was a soft touch. Next to it goes a soft touch 6a, Cocoluche, which has an easily avoidable 6b section. Terry was such a soft touch. ► touch your toes Bend from the waist, with your arms still straight, and touch your toes. Can you touch your toes while keeping your legs straight? Then he would touch his toes twenty times. ► it’s touch-and-go► touch wood I've never been in trouble with the police, touch wood. We haven't missed a deadline yet, knock on wood. And I hope I don't - touch wood! I've just been lucky so far, touch wood. Male speaker Well we are a bit of a lively bunch but I haven't been banned yet ... touch wood! What is more, it might, touch wood, even be in a position to implement some of them. Word family WORD FAMILYadjectivetoucheduntouchedtouchingtouchyuntouchablenountouchuntouchableverbtouchadverbtouchingly 1touching somebody/something [countable usually singular] the action of putting your hand, finger, or another part of your body on something or someone:  She felt a gentle touch on her shoulder.touch of He remembered the touch of her fingers on his face.2ability to feel things [uncountable] the sense that you use to discover what something feels like, by putting your hand or fingers on it:  the sense of touchby touch Visually impaired people orient themselves by touch. Bake the cake for 30 minutes until risen and firm to the touch.3in touch (with somebody) talking or writing to someone:  We’ll get in touch (=start talking or writing to you) as soon as we know the results of the test. Can I have your phone number in case I need to get in touch with you? Bye. I’ll be in touch. Are you still in touch with John (=are you talking to him regularly)? I’m in close touch with Anna.stay/keep in touch (=keep writing or talking, even though you do not see each other often) Anyway, we must stay in touch. I met him when I worked in Madrid, and I’ve kept in touch with him ever since. I lost touch with (=stopped writing or talking to) Julie after we moved. I can put you in touch with a local photography club (=give you their address or phone number so you can talk to them).USAGE: In touch, in contact• If you stay/keep in touch or keep in contact with someone, you keep writing to them or calling them:· I hope you'll keep in touch while you're away.• If two things are in contact or come into contact, they touch each other: · Make sure that the two wires don't come into contact. ✗Don’t say in touch in this meaning.4be/keep/stay etc in touch (with something) to have the latest information or knowledge about something:  A regular newsletter keeps people in touch with local events. The speech was good and you felt he was in touch with people’s needs. Rescuers were kept in touch through radio links. A head-teacher needs to remain in close touch with teachers’ everyday concerns.5be out of touch a) (also lose touch (with something)) to not have the latest knowledge about a subject, situation, or the way people feeltouch with I’m out of touch with modern medicine. The party cannot afford to lose touch with political reality. b)to not know much about modern life:  Judges are often accused of being out of touch.6get in touch with something especially American English to realize and understand something such as your feelings and attitudes:  The first stage is to get in touch with your perceptions and accept responsibility for your relationships.7detail/addition [countable] a small detail that improves or completes somethingput the final/finishing touches to something Emma was putting the finishing touches to the cake. There was a vase of flowers in the room, which was a nice touch. Brass pans added a decorative touch to the plain brick wall.8way of doing something [countable] a particular way of doing something, or the ability to do it in a particular way:  The room was decorated with a very artistic touch. Our staff combine efficient service with a personal touch (=they do things in a friendly way). The feminine touch was evident throughout the house. His sure touch (=confident way of doing things) and attention to detail are just as evident now. Barbara has a magic touch in the garden (=she grows things very well). King obviously hasn’t lost his touch (=lost his ability) – his latest book sold in the millions.9a touch of something a small amount of something:  Our furniture is guaranteed to add a touch of class to your bedroom. Add a lace top for a touch of glamour. ‘What?’ asked Hazel, with a touch of irritation.10a touch disappointed/faster/impatient etc slightly disappointed, faster etc:  He sounded a touch upset when I spoke to him on the phone.11with/at the touch of a button/key used to emphasize that something can be done very easily by pressing a button:  This card allows you to access your money at the touch of a button. You can get all the latest information with the touch of a button.12a soft/easy touch informal if someone is a soft or an easy touch, you can easily persuade them to do what you want, especially give you money13way something feels [countable usually singular] the way that something feels and the effect it has on your skin:  the warm touch of his lips14soccer/rugby [uncountable] the area outside the lines that mark the playing areainto touch The ball rolled into touch. → common touch at common1(13), → a/the human touch at human1(5), → kick something into touch at kick1(11), → lose your touch at lose(1), → magic touch at magic2(5), → Midas touch, → a soft touch at soft(17)
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英语词典包含52748条英英释义在线翻译词条，基本涵盖了全部常用单词的英英翻译及用法，是英语学习的有利工具。