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Glite Dictionary
to touch off

to touch off

15 7.4
Make an event or strong reaction start suddenly
  • phrasal verb
  • /tʌtʃ ɔf/
  • US
translation icon : desencadenar
  • The sudden announcement touched off protests across the city.
  • a crisis touched off

Examples

  • But his acceptance of the position touched off a bitter exchange with Du Bois.

    Academic text (1997)

  • The incident touched off a week of desperate fighting, culminating on Saturday in Monica's removal of her effects.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Grandma, Dad, and Mom lived happy lives, except that sometimes an argument would be touched off.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • "And with that one word, he touched off the transformation in his tired bones.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The bow was damaged by the explosion of the forward magazine, probably touched off by a Japanese bomb.

    Academic text (1991)

  • The whole incident was murky, but what would become clear was that Washington had touched off a war.

    Blog text (16)

  • A poor joke, but it touched off nervous titters.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Reagan's new peace offensive touched off a deep debate in Israel.

    Academic text (1991)

  • Apple's smaller tablet is expected to touch off a high-stakes battle for buyers this holiday.

    Blog text (20)

  • Clint Eastwood's performance at the RNC has touched off a nationwide phenomenon: the symbol of the empty chair.

    Blog text (7)

Synonyms

to trigger
vsto touch off
422 4.2

To cause something to start or happen

is narrower, highlighting sudden or provocative initiation rather than general cause
to spark
vsto touch off
154 3.4

To cause something to start, often an idea or strong feeling

leans more toward provoking violent or explosive reactions rather than mild starts
to set off
vsto touch off
131 3.1

To cause something to start or happen

is more associated with abrupt or forceful starting of reactions
to precipitate
vsto touch off
31 7.5

To cause something to happen suddenly before it was expected

emphasizes provoking a sudden start rather than changing expected timing
to spark off
vsto touch off
  • Informal
1 3.9

To cause a sudden event or strong reaction to begin

focuses more on provoking an abrupt, often intense outcome
to trigger off
vsto touch off
  • UK
1 5.1

To cause something to start suddenly

is similar but often stresses provoking a quick, strong reaction
to light the blue touchpaper
vsto touch off
  • UK
9.6

To start something that quickly becomes exciting or causes strong debate

is similar but highlights immediate provoking of a sudden reaction

Antonyms

to prevent
∞ 2.3

Stop something from happening or someone from doing it

to suppress
176 4.8

To stop public protest by force or by people in power

How Strong

to detonate
192 6.5
to ignite
66 4.0
to touch off
  • US
15 7.4
to spark
154 3.4
to cause
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

touch off infinitive
touched off past
touched off past participle
touching off present participle
touches off third person singular

Morphology

touch + off

The causative sense is partly inferable from 'touch' (make contact) combined with a particle indicating change or initiation; a learner who knows both words could plausibly guess that 'touch off' means to trigger or provoke something. However, particle verbs are variable and 'off' is ambiguous (could be misread as 'turn off'), and the specific causative/trigger sense is not fully predictable without exposure, so it should be classed as semi-transparent.

Etymology

Touch off comes from the image of lighting a fuse: someone gives a small touch to a fuse to set it off, and that tiny action can cause a sudden fire or blast. That's why touch off now means 'to cause something to start suddenly' or 'to trigger'.