The boy touched off a firecracker.
The coach's resignation touched off a quarrel.
Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". Оригинал: A.Маккей, М.Т.Боткер, Дж.И.Гейтс. 1997.
touch off — (something) to cause something violent or destructive to start. Plans for a new homeless shelter touched off a storm of protest. Windblown wires touched off the blaze. There was a dramatic fall in stock prices, and no one is sure what touched it… … New idioms dictionary
touch off — ► touch off 1) cause (something) to ignite or explode by touching it with a match. 2) cause to happen suddenly. Main Entry: ↑touch … English terms dictionary
touch off — index launch (initiate) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law 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 off — phrasal verb [transitive] Word forms touch off : present tense I/you/we/they touch off he/she/it touches off present participle touching off past tense touched off past participle touched off to make something unpleasant or dangerous happen The… … English dictionary
touch off — PHRASAL VERB If something touches off a situation or series of events, it causes it to start happening. [V P n (not pron)] Is the massacre likely to touch off a new round of violence? [Also V n P] … English dictionary
touch-off — ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun ( s) Etymology: touch off : something that is touched off; specifically : a fire of incendiary origin … Useful english dictionary
touch off — verb To start; to cause, especially used for unstable situations that may magnify if disturbed. Be cautious talking about religion or politics, lest you touch off an argument … Wiktionary
touch off something — touch off (something) to cause something violent or destructive to start. Plans for a new homeless shelter touched off a storm of protest. Windblown wires touched off the blaze. There was a dramatic fall in stock prices, and no one is sure what… … New idioms dictionary
touch off — I (Roget s IV) v. 1. [To cause to explode] Syn. detonate, light the fuse, light, set off; see explode 1 . 2. [To cause to start] Syn. start, initiate, release; see begin 1 , cause 2 . II (Roget s Thesaurus II) I verb 1. To release or cause to… … English dictionary for students
touch off — {v.} 1. To cause to fire or explode by lighting the priming or the fuse. * /The boy touched off a firecracker./ Compare: SET OFF. 2. To start something as if by lighting a fuse. * /The coach s resignation touched off a quarrel./ Compare: SET OFF … Dictionary of American idioms
