touch and go

comparative more touch and go · superlative most touch and go

1. obsoleteCharacterized by brief and transitory encounters.

   Madam, I’m gone; no wonder, for you know, Lovers' encounters are but touch and go.

   1665, Richard Head, The English Rogue

2. Precarious, delicate, risky, sensitive; of uncertain outcome (by analogy with a ship in shallow water).

   I could sense it was touch and go whether I could get the lay.

   2 more examples

   His condition was touch and go for a time after the accident, but they think he will recover.

   One year ago, love was touch and go / Time made me see, solved the mystery / Taught me that love and time / Will change your mind, and make it right / Bring your darkness to the light / My heart sings in the night, my love I bring to you

   1983, Earth, Wind & Fire, “Side by Side”, in Powerlight

present singular third person touches and goes · participle present touching and going · past touched and went · participle past touched and gone

1. obsoleteTo briefly encounter before moving on.

   As the text doth rise, I will touch and go a little in euery place, untill I come unto too much.

   1607, Hugh Latimer, “The first Sermon preached by M. Latimer before King Edward”, in Fruitfull Sermons Preached by the right Reuerend Father, and constant Martyr of Iesus Christ, M. Hugh Latimer, page 16

2. nauticalTo touch bottom lightly and continue without damage, as a vessel in motion.

   Whilst they were disputing the vessel touched the ground, but soon got off again. "Ay," says the captain, "he is a good pilot that can touch and go."

   1771, Francis Fleming, The Life and Extraordinary Adventures, the Perils and Critical Escapes, of Timothy Ginnadrake, that Child of checquer'd Fortune, volume 2, page 29

3. aeronauticsTo perform a touch-and-go landing.