Meaning & use
a soft touch
Last updated
Meanings
nounsingularinformaldisapproving
a person who is easily persuaded to give money or help
Grammar: Usually used with 'a': 'He's a soft touch.' It can also be plural: 'They're soft touches.'
Patterns
- be a soft touch
- a soft touch for something
Don't ask Dad for money—he's a soft touch.
She's a soft touch for any charity that asks.
The kids know their grandfather is a soft touch.
nounsingularinformalBritish
something that is very easy to do or deal with
Grammar: Used in the phrase 'be a soft touch': 'The exam was a soft touch.'
Patterns
- be a soft touch
- a soft touch of a job
The test was a soft touch; everyone passed.
He thought the new job would be a soft touch, but it's actually hard work.
Common combinations
- a soft touch for money
- He's a soft touch for money whenever his nephew asks.
- be a soft touch
- Don't be a soft touch; learn to say no.
- an easy touch
- She's an easy touch when it comes to lending her car.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pushover
- Similar but stronger and more insulting; it suggests someone with no authority who can be easily controlled.
- easy mark
- Often used for someone easily tricked or cheated, not just someone generous.
Opposites
Commonly confused: a soft touch or soft touch?
a soft touch vs soft touch
Without 'a', 'soft touch' can mean a gentle physical touch, e.g. 'The fabric has a soft touch.'
Practice
What does 'He's a soft touch' mean?
Choose one answer.
'A soft touch' describes someone who gives in easily, especially with money. It does not mean physically gentle, which would be 'a soft touch' in a literal sense. It is the opposite of strict or hard to persuade.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a soft touch”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.