touch-and-go
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
An expression often applied to men with whom business arrangements should be of the lightest possible character. Thus, "He’s a TOUCH-AND-GO sort of fellow. Be careful of him."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “touch-and-go” mean?
An expression often applied to men with whom business arrangements should be of the lightest possible character. Thus, "He’s a TOUCH-AND-GO sort of fellow. Be careful of him."
Is “touch-and-go” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.