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Meaning & use

touch-me-not

noun·Advanced

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UK/ˈtʌtʃ mi nɒt/
US/ˈtʌtʃ mi nɑːt/

Meanings

  1. nouncountablebiology

    A plant whose leaves close up or whose seed pods burst open when touched, such as the sensitive plant or jewelweed.

    Grammar: Countable: a touch-me-not grows near the stream; plural touch-me-nots.

    Patterns

    • a touch-me-not plant

    The touch-me-not folded its leaves as soon as I brushed it.

    Children love popping the pods of the touch-me-not.

    Jewelweed, also called touch-me-not, grows in damp woods.

  2. nouncountableold-fashionedfigurative

    A person who dislikes being touched or who reacts sharply to any criticism, so that others must be careful around them.

    Grammar: Countable, informal, and often used figuratively of a person: he is a real touch-me-not.

    Patterns

    • a touch-me-not about something

    He is such a touch-me-not that nobody dares give him advice.

    She was a touch-me-not about her research and refused any feedback.

    The old aunt was a stiff touch-me-not who disliked hugs.

Word forms

pluraltouch-me-nots

Common combinations

a touch-me-not plant
A touch-me-not plant grew beside the path.
pods of a touch-me-not
The pods of a touch-me-not burst when ripe.
a real touch-me-not
He is a real touch-me-not about his work.
wild touch-me-not
Wild touch-me-not blooms with orange flowers.

Synonyms and how they differ

sensitive plant
Sensitive plant is the common name for Mimosa pudica, one particular touch-me-not, while touch-me-not is a broader name.
jewelweed
Jewelweed is a specific wildflower called touch-me-not because of its bursting pods.
prude
Prude describes someone easily shocked by anything improper, while a touch-me-not is touchy or reserved.
thin-skinned
Thin-skinned is an adjective for someone easily hurt by criticism, while touch-me-not is a noun, more old-fashioned.

Word family

touch verb
to put your hand on something
touchy adjective
easily upset or offended
touchiness noun
the quality of being easily offended
untouchable adjective
not able to be touched or criticized

Commonly confused: touch-me-not or forget-me-not?

touch-me-not vs forget-me-not

A forget-me-not is a small blue garden flower, and its name is a similar pattern. It does not react to touch.

Practice

As children, we loved to find the ___ plant by the stream and watch its leaves fold up when we brushed them.

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