soft touch

soft touch
noun
a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of
• Syn:
↑chump, ↑fool, ↑gull, ↑mark, ↑patsy, ↑fall guy, ↑sucker, ↑mug
• Derivationally related forms: ↑suck (for: ↑sucker), ↑gull (for: ↑gull), ↑fool (for: ↑fool)
• Hypernyms: ↑victim, ↑dupe

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noun
1. : someone who can be easily talked into giving help (as a gift or loan of money) : easy mark

recognized him early as a soft touch for a loan — John Lardner

2. : something easily performed or dispatched

it's not a soft touch; it's a business

3. : an easily defeated opponent : someone readily victimized

their traditional football rival promised to be a soft touch that year

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Informal.
1. a person who is easily convinced, esp. to give or lend money: a soft touch for charities.
2. a person who is easily influenced, duped, or imposed upon: a soft touch for anybody with a sob story.
3. a person, team, etc., that is easily defeated: They're a soft touch for any team in the league.
4. a task or activity that is easily or quickly done, esp. a job that pays well and requires little work.
[1935-40]

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soft touch see under ↑touch
• • •
Main Entry: ↑soft

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soft touch,
U.S. Informal. a person from whom money can easily be obtained for a loan, contribution, or the like: »

His neighbors knew him as a soft touch for every charity drive (Atlantic).

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(also easy touch) informal a person who readily gives or does something if asked

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noun, pl ⋯ touches [count]
US informal : a person who is easily deceived or taken advantage of

His friends all know that he's a soft touch.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • soft touch — {n.} A person with a sympathetic disposition from whom it is easy to get help, primarily money. * /My Uncle Herb is a soft touch; whenever I m in need I ask him for a quick twenty bucks./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • soft touch — {n.} A person with a sympathetic disposition from whom it is easy to get help, primarily money. * /My Uncle Herb is a soft touch; whenever I m in need I ask him for a quick twenty bucks./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • soft touch — soft′ touch′ n. 1) inf a person who readily gives or lends money 2) inf a person who is easily duped or imposed upon • Etymology: 1935–40 …   From formal English to slang

  • soft touch — ☆ soft touch n. Slang a person who is easily persuaded, esp. to give or lend money …   English World dictionary

  • soft touch — 1. n. a gentle way of handling someone or something. □ Bess has a soft touch and can bring both sides together. □ Kelly lacks the kind of soft touch needed for this kind of negotiation. 2. n. a gullible person; a likely victim of a scheme. □ John …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • soft touch — Informal. 1. a person who is easily convinced, esp. to give or lend money: a soft touch for charities. 2. a person who is easily influenced, duped, or imposed upon: a soft touch for anybody with a sob story. 3. a person, team, etc., that is… …   Universalium

  • soft touch — noun a) A person or group which is sympathetic, accommodating, easily overcome, or easily persuaded, especially one which loans or readily gives money to another. But Fred Heimach, who batted for Quinn in the Brooklyn half and fanned, proved a… …   Wiktionary

  • soft\ touch — noun A person with a sympathetic disposition from whom it is easy to get help, primarily money. My Uncle Herb is a soft touch; whenever I m in need I ask him for a quick twenty bucks …   Словарь американских идиом

  • soft touch (also easy touch) — informal a person who is easily persuaded or imposed upon. → soft …   English new terms dictionary

  • soft touch — noun Date: 1939 a person who is easily imposed on or taken advantage of …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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