What does "touch and go" mean?
"Touch and go" describes a situation that could go either way - uncertain and potentially dangerous. Here's how and when to use it.
What it means
A situation that is uncertain and could go either way - often with serious consequences if it goes wrong. Precarious and unpredictable.
"It was touch and go for a while after the operation."
"The project launch was touch and go right up to the deadline."
"Whether we'd make the flight was touch and go."
The origin
Aviation - a "touch and go" is a training manoeuvre where a plane lands briefly and immediately takes off again. In everyday use, the phrase captured the idea of something barely working, hovering between success and failure.
What it implies
The outcome was uncertain, and the situation required luck or careful handling to resolve well. Looking back on it, things could easily have gone the other way.
A native would say
- "It was uncertain for a while" - plain
- "It could have gone either way" - specific
- "We were on a knife-edge" - British, more dramatic
Register
Casual to professional. Common in conversation and informal writing.
What does "touch and go" mean?
A situation that is uncertain and could go either way - often with serious consequences if it goes wrong. Precarious and unpredictable.
"It was touch and go for a while after the operation."
"The project launch was touch and go right up to the deadline."
"Whether we'd make the flight was touch and go."
Is "touch and go" formal or informal?
Casual to professional. Common in conversation and informal writing.
What's another way to say "touch and go"?
- "It was uncertain for a while" - plain
- "It could have gone either way" - specific
- "We were on a knife-edge" - British, more dramatic
English is full of expressions like this one.
LLH Tutor explains what native speakers actually mean, personalised to your level and goals.
Save to your vocabulary