📒 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.
📒 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.
📒 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!
📒 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.
📒 to affect somebody/something
- These are issues that touch us all.
- 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.
📒 to eat, drink or use something
- You've hardly touched your food.
- He hasn't touched the money his aunt left him.
📒 to be as good as somebody in skill, quality, etc.
- No one can touch him when it comes to interior design.
📒 to reach a particular level, etc.
- The speedometer was touching 90.
📒 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.
📒 to be seen on somebody’s face for a short time
- A smile touched the corners of his mouth.
📒 to have a small amount of a particular quality
- His hair was touched with grey.
- Some of her poems are touched with real genius.
📒 to upset somebody by reminding them of something they are particularly sensitive about
📒 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.
📒 to not hurt somebody physically in any way
📒 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.
📒 to say or do something that makes people feel sympathy or enthusiasm
- The speaker had obviously struck a chord with his audience.
📒 to make contact with somebody again
📒 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.
📒 to say or do something that makes people feel sympathy or enthusiasm
- The speaker had obviously touched a chord with his audience.
📒 to show too much respect for somebody of a higher class, especially because you are anxious about what they think of you
📒 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!
📒 very close
- We came within touching distance of winning the cup.
- We live within spitting distance of the bus station.