touch
verb/tʌtʃ/
/tʌtʃ/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| 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/ |
- [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
- …
- want to
- (not) dare (to)
- reach out, over, up, etc. to
- …
- on
- with
- (be) careful not to touch something
- close enough to touch somebody/something
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- [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.
- [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!
- [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
- [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.
- [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.
- [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.
- [transitive] touch something to reach a particular level, etc.
- The speedometer was touching 90.
- [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.
- [transitive] touch something to be seen on somebody’s face for a short time
- A smile touched the corners of his mouth.
with hand/part of body
no space between
move something/hit somebody
affect somebody/something
eat/drink/use
equal somebody
reach level
be involved with
of smile
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
See touch in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee touch in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishbe 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.
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.
Check pronunciation:
touch