touch something off

touch something off
1 he touched off two of the bombs: DETONATE, set off, trigger, explode.
2 the plan touched off a major political storm: CAUSE, spark off, trigger (off), start, set in motion, ignite, stir up, provoke, give rise to, lead to, generate.
touch

* * *

cause something to ignite or explode by touching it with a match
cause something to happen, esp. suddenly

there was concern that the move could touch off a trade war

* * *

ˌtouch sthˈoff derived
to make sth begin, especially a difficult or violent situation

The blaze was touched off by lightning.

Her comments touched off a wave of protests.

Main entry:touchderived

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • touch something off — 1》 cause something to ignite or explode by touching it with a match.     ↘cause something to happen suddenly. 2》 (of a racehorse) defeat another horse in a race by a short margin. → touch …   English new terms dictionary

  • set something off — 1 the bomb was set off: DETONATE, explode, blow up, touch off, trigger; ignite. 2 it set off a wave of protest: GIVE RISE TO, cause, lead to, set …   Useful english dictionary

  • keep something off — ˌkeep sb/sthˈoff | ˌkeep sb/sth ˈoff sb/sth derived to prevent sb/sth from coming near, touching, etc. sb/sth • They lit a fire to keep off wild animals. • Keep your hands off (= do not touch) me! Main entry: ↑keep …   Useful english dictionary

  • touch off — verb put in motion or move to act (Freq. 3) trigger a reaction actuate the circuits • Syn: ↑trip, ↑actuate, ↑trigger, ↑activate, ↑set off, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • touch — verb 1》 come into or be in contact with.     ↘come or bring into mutual contact.     ↘bring one s hand or another part of one s body into contact with.     ↘strike (a ball) lightly in a specified direction. 2》 harm or interfere with.     ↘[usu.… …   English new terms dictionary

  • keep something off something — ˌkeep sb/sthˈoff | ˌkeep sb/sth ˈoff sb/sth derived to prevent sb/sth from coming near, touching, etc. sb/sth • They lit a fire to keep off wild animals. • Keep your hands off (= do not touch) me! Main entry: ↑keep …   Useful english dictionary

  • touch (or chiefly N. Amer. knock on) wood — touch something wooden to ward off bad luck. → wood …   English new terms dictionary

  • touch wood — ► touch (or chiefly N. Amer. knock on) wood touch something wooden to ward off bad luck. Main Entry: ↑wood …   English terms dictionary

  • keep something off somebody — ˌkeep sb/sthˈoff | ˌkeep sb/sth ˈoff sb/sth derived to prevent sb/sth from coming near, touching, etc. sb/sth • They lit a fire to keep off wild animals. • Keep your hands off (= do not touch) me! Main entry: ↑keep …   Useful english dictionary

  • touch — touch1 W2S2 [tʌtʃ] v ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(feel)¦ 2¦(no space between)¦ 3 touch something to something 4¦(affect somebody s feelings)¦ 5¦(have an effect)¦ 6¦(use)¦ 7 not touch something 8 not touch somebody/something 9¦(deal with somebody/something)¦ …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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