Meaning & use
soft touches
Last updated
“soft touches” is a form of “soft touch”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounpluralinformaldisapproving
People who are easy to persuade to give money or help, often because they are kind or sympathetic.
Grammar: Countable noun, usually used in the plural; the singular is 'soft touch'.
Patterns
- be a soft touch
- be a soft touch for something
- see someone as a soft touch
His friends are soft touches and always lend him money.
Charities know that some donors are soft touches for emotional appeals.
Don't let them treat you as one of the soft touches.
Word forms
| singular | soft touch |
|---|
Common combinations
- a soft touch for money
- He is a soft touch for money whenever a friend asks.
- be seen as a soft touch
- The manager is seen as a soft touch by his staff.
- an easy soft touch
- She is an easy soft touch for anyone with a sad story.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pushover
- Pushover means someone who is easily defeated or persuaded; it is more general and can sound more negative than soft touch.
- sucker
- Sucker is stronger and more insulting; it suggests someone is easily tricked, not just kind.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: soft touches or soft touch?
soft touches vs soft touch
The singular 'soft touch' refers to one person; 'soft touches' is the plural. Do not use the plural form for a single person.
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses 'soft touches' correctly:
Choose one answer.
'Soft touches' is a plural noun meaning people who are easy to persuade. Option 2 uses it correctly; the others confuse it with the literal meaning of 'touch' or use the wrong grammar.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “soft touches”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.