touch of the 'tism
- idiom
- Slur
:
[término ofensivo que insinúa autismo]
- Joking that someone's fashion sense has a touch of the 'tism is considered insensitive and inappropriate.
Examples
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The film's quirky protagonist is said to have a touch of the 'tism by some reviewers.
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Some people felt his comments had a touch of the 'tism, making others uncomfortable.
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He has a touch of the 'tism when he talks about his favorite movies.
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Some people say she shows a touch of the 'tism in her artwork.
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Joking about someone's behavior having a touch of the 'tism can be seen as offensive and rude.
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Many critics noted that the main character exhibits a touch of the 'tism throughout the movie, which adds to his charm.
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He's often said to have a touch of the 'tism due to his unique perspective on social interactions.
Surface Forms
Morphology
touch + of + the + 'tism
The component 'touch of' clearly signals a slight trace or hint, so if a learner recognises "'tism" as a clipped form of "autism" the overall meaning (a hint of autistic-like traits) is derivable. However, "'tism" is nonstandard, slangy and carries derogatory connotations, so its form and pragmatic force may not be fully predictable to B1 learners, making the expression only partially transparent.
Etymology
Touch of the 'tism comes from the saying 'a touch of' meaning a small amount and from 'tism, a short form of 'autism'. It creates the image of someone having a light touch of autistic traits, so people used it to call odd or quirky behavior, but because it turns a real medical condition into an insult, the phrase is often seen as offensive.
