touch

verb

/tʌtʃ/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they touch	/tʌtʃ/ /tʌtʃ/
he / she / it touches	/ˈtʌtʃɪz/ /ˈtʌtʃɪz/
past simple touched	/tʌtʃt/ /tʌtʃt/
past participle touched	/tʌtʃt/ /tʌtʃt/
-ing form touching	/ˈtʌtʃɪŋ/ /ˈtʌtʃɪŋ/

Idioms Phrasal Verbs

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with hand/part of body

[transitive] touch somebody/something to put your hand or another part of your body onto somebody/something

Don't touch that plate—it's hot!
Can you touch your toes? (= bend and reach them with your hands)
touch somebody on something I touched him lightly on the arm.
touch somebody/something with something Do not touch anything with your bare hands.
He has hardly touched the ball all game.
(figurative) I must do some more work on that article—I haven't touched it all week.

Extra Examples

Don't you dare touch me!
He accidentally touched a live wire attached to overhead power cables.
He did not actually touch the substance, but may have inhaled it.
He was close enough to touch her.
He wouldn't let me touch the wound.
Her hand reached out to touch his cheek.
His fingers briefly touched hers.
She hugged him, being careful not to touch his broken wrist.
In social groups, dolphins often touch each other with their pectoral fins.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

(not) actually
not even
not quite
…

verb + touch

want to
(not) dare (to)
reach out, over, up, etc. to
…

preposition

on
with

phrases

(be) careful not to touch something
close enough to touch somebody/something

See full entry

no space between

[intransitive, transitive] (of two or more things, surfaces, etc.) to be or come so close together that there is no space between

Make sure the wires don't touch.
Their faces were almost touching.
touch something Don't let your coat touch the wet paint.
His coat was so long it was almost touching the floor.
The dancer’s feet hardly seemed to touch the ground.

move something/hit somebody

[transitive] (often in negative sentences) touch something/somebody to move something, especially in such a way that you damage it; to hit or harm somebody

I told you not to touch my things.
He said I kicked him, but I never touched him!

affect somebody/something

[transitive] to make somebody feel upset or emotional

touch somebody/something Her story touched us all deeply.
What he said really touched my heart.
I had been touched by his kindness to my aunts.
touch somebody/something to do something It truly touches me to know that I am holding in my hand a piece of paper used by someone who lived in 1745.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

deeply

See full entry

[transitive] touch somebody/something (old-fashioned or formal) to affect somebody/something

These are issues that touch us all.

Extra Examples

The life of a shepherd has been only marginally touched by technological change.
Even the most remote areas are now directly touched by political, educational and medical advances.

eat/drink/use

[transitive] (usually in negative sentences) touch something to eat, drink or use something

You've hardly touched your food.
He hasn't touched the money his aunt left him.

equal somebody

[transitive] (usually in negative sentences) touch somebody to be as good as somebody in skill, quality, etc.

No one can touch him when it comes to interior design.

reach level

[transitive] touch something to reach a particular level, etc.

The speedometer was touching 90.

be involved with

[transitive] touch something/somebody to become connected with or work with a situation or person

Everything she touches turns to disaster.
His last two movies have been complete flops and now no studio will touch him.

of smile

[transitive] touch something to be seen on somebody’s face for a short time

A smile touched the corners of his mouth.

Word OriginMiddle English: the verb from Old French tochier, probably from a Romance word of imitative origin; the noun originally from Old French touche, later (in certain senses) directly from the verb.

Idioms

be touched with something

to have a small amount of a particular quality
- His hair was touched with grey.
- Some of her poems are touched with real genius.

catch/touch somebody on the raw

(British English) to upset somebody by reminding them of something they are particularly sensitive about

hit/touch/strike a (raw/sensitive) nerve

to mention a subject that makes somebody feel angry, upset, embarrassed, etc.
- You touched a raw nerve when you mentioned his first wife.
- My remarks about divorce had unwittingly touched a raw nerve.
- The article struck a raw nerve as it revived unpleasant memories.
Topics Feelingsc2

not harm/touch a hair of somebody’s head

to not hurt somebody physically in any way

not touch somebody/something with a bargepole (British English)

(North American English not touch somebody/something with a ten-foot pole)

(informal) to refuse to get involved with somebody/something or in a particular situation
- Personally, I wouldn’t touch him or his business with a bargepole.

strike/touch a chord (with somebody)

to say or do something that makes people feel sympathy or enthusiasm
- The speaker had obviously struck a chord with his audience.

touch base (with somebody)

(informal) to make contact with somebody again

touch bottom

to reach the ground at the bottom of an area of water
- I put my feet down and touched bottom.
to reach the worst possible state or condition
- Her career really touched bottom with that movie.

touch/strike a chord (with somebody)

to say or do something that makes people feel sympathy or enthusiasm
- The speaker had obviously touched a chord with his audience.

touch/tug your forelock (to somebody)

(British English, disapproving) to show too much respect for somebody of a higher class, especially because you are anxious about what they think of you

touch wood (British English)

(North American English knock on wood)

(saying) used when talking about your previous good luck or your hopes for the future, to avoid bringing bad luck
- I've been driving for over 20 years and never had an accident—touch wood!

within touching distance (of something)

(British English also within spitting distance)

(also within shouting distance especially in North American English)

(informal) very close
- We came within touching distance of winning the cup.
- We live within spitting distance of the bus station.

touch

noun

/tʌtʃ/

Idioms

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sense

[uncountable] the sense that enables you to be aware of things and what they are like when you put your hands and fingers on them

the sense of touch
by touch They had to identify various materials by touch.

Extra Examples

Sculpture potentially appeals to the sense of touch as well as sight.
The bird depends largely on an extremely delicate sense of touch to find its prey.
She has learnt to recognize the raised patterns of Braille by touch.

with hand/part of body

[countable, usually singular] an act of putting your hand or another part of your body onto somebody/something

The gentle touch of his hand on her shoulder made her jump.
at the touch of somebody/something All this information is readily available at the touch of a button (= by simply pressing a button).
at somebody's touch The door swung open at his touch.
This type of engraving requires a delicate touch.
She played the piano with a light touch.
The slightest touch will set off the alarm.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

delicate
gentle
light
…

preposition

at somebody/something’s touch

phrases

be cold, hot, soft, etc. to the touch

See full entry

way something feels

[singular] the way that something feels when you put your hand or fingers on it or when it comes into contact with your body

material with a smooth silky touch
He could not bear the touch of clothing on his sunburnt skin.
to the touch The body was cold to the touch.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

delicate
gentle
light
…

preposition

at somebody/something’s touch

phrases

be cold, hot, soft, etc. to the touch

See full entry

small detail

[countable] a small detail that is added to something in order to improve it or make it complete

Meeting them at the airport was a nice touch.
Bright cushions add a decorative touch to a room.

way of doing something

[singular] a way or style of doing something

She prefers to answer any fan mail herself for a more personal touch.
Computer graphics will give your presentation the professional touch.
He couldn't find his magic touch with the ball today (= he didn't play well).
This meal is awful. I think I'm losing my touch (= my ability to do something).

small amount

[countable, usually singular] touch of something a very small amount synonym trace

There was a touch of sarcasm in her voice.
There could be a touch of frost tonight.

Extra Examples

He has just the right touch of arrogance for the role.
Her speech brought a welcome touch of frivolity to the evening.
Give your garden a touch of class with a sundial as a focal point.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

little
subtle
welcome
…

verb + touch

add
bring

preposition

with a touch of
touch of

See full entry

slightly

a touch

[singular] slightly; a little

The music was a touch too loud for my liking.

in football/rugby

[uncountable] the area outside the lines that mark the sides of the playing field

into touch He kicked the ball into touch.

Idioms

be, become, etc. out of touch (with something)

to not know or understand what is happening in a particular subject or area
- Unfortunately, the people making the decisions are out of touch with the real world.
- This government is increasingly out of touch with ordinary voters.

be, get, keep, stay, etc. in touch (with somebody)

to communicate with somebody, especially by writing to them or phoning them
- Are you still in touch with your friends from college?
- Thanks for showing us your products—we'll be in touch.
- I'm trying to get in touch with Jane. Do you have her number?
- Let's keep in touch.
- I'll put you in touch with someone in your area.
- The security staff were in close touch with the local police.

be, keep, etc. in touch (with something)

to know what is happening in a particular subject or area
- It is important to keep in touch with the latest research.

be out of touch (with somebody)

to no longer communicate with somebody, so that you no longer know what is happening to them
- We’ve been out of touch for a couple of years.

the common touch

the ability of a powerful or famous person to talk to and understand ordinary people

an easy/a soft touch

(informal) a person that you can easily persuade to do something, especially to give you money
- Unfortunately, my father is no soft touch.

kick something into the long grass/into touch

(British English) to reject something or treat it as not important; to stop dealing with a problem
- He tends to deal with disputes by kicking them into the long grass.

a light touch

the ability to deal with something in a sensitive and relaxed way
- She handles this difficult subject with a light touch.

lose touch (with somebody/something)

to no longer have any contact with somebody/something
- I've lost touch with all my old friends.
to no longer understand something, especially how ordinary people feel