Touch and Go
Preserved but no longer current.
A very narrow escape; a metaphor derived, perhaps, from driving when the wheel of one vehicle touches that of another passing vehicle without doing mischief. It was a touch, but neither vehicle was stopped, each could go on.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Touch and Go” mean?
A very narrow escape; a metaphor derived, perhaps, from driving when the wheel of one vehicle touches that of another passing vehicle without doing mischief. It was a touch, but neither vehicle was stopped, each could go on.
Is “Touch and Go” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.