touch and go
The phrase 'touch and go' originated in the mid-1500s and is used to describe precarious situations or specific maneuvers in aviation and nautical contexts.
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Definition
B2General
(common, informal)Describes a situation that is risky and could easily become dangerous or fail.
Example
- The patient's recovery was touch and go after the surgery.
- The negotiations were touch and go until the last minute.
C1Aviation
(technical)A maneuver where an aircraft briefly lands and then takes off again without stopping.
Example
- The pilot practiced touch and go landings to improve his skills.
C1Nautical
(technical)When a vessel lightly touches the bottom without causing damage.
Example
- The ship performed a touch and go on the sandy seabed.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "touch and go":