displaying a touch of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "displaying a touch of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has a slight or subtle quality or characteristic. Example: "The painting is beautiful, displaying a touch of melancholy that resonates with the viewer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

James Ivory had done the same, but, at the age of eighty-nine, he needed one hand free for the script of his speech and another for his walking stick, whereas McDormand, displaying a touch of the verve with which her character, in "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," hurls Molotov cocktails into a police station, went hands-free to make an important point.

The New Yorker

He's in superb form and displaying a touch of genius.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"On a handful of occasions, especially early on, inspectors failed to display a touch of common sense.

The Guardian

He displayed a touch of steel, however, when it came to the fate of his embattled republic.

The Guardian

He may even be the equal of the Kings' Drew Doughty (10, plus-10), who displayed a touch of hubris, saying: "The game is slowing down for me.

The New York Times - Sports

Desperate to exorcise the spectre of jackbooted gendarmes hauling parliamentarians off their green leather benches to a Luxembourg courtroom, David Miliband, the British foreign secretary, found himself at a pre-summit meeting pleading (successfully) for the word "shall" to be cut.At the same meeting the Poles displayed a touch of the vapours too.

The Economist

Elaborating on this, he states: "[Cerna is] declamatory, banal and dry in his use of metaphors, although he displays a touch of the sublime here and there".

Wikipedia

My own personal favourite is a picture of the interior of a brothel called The House Of Blossoms; in it the velvet cushions and curtains seem like blood-red beacons in the shadows, lending the seedy activities on display a touch of class.

The Guardian - Tech

Some people even used the fry to display their solidarity with a touch of humor.

Huffington Post

Displaying a skillful lightness of touch, Who threw that sunset at Me culminates as a series of beautiful, highly mysterious and highly allusive paintings, rich in layered meaning.

Huffington Post

We would care more about these men and their loved ones if they were allowed to display more ordinary human foibles, perhaps a touch of weakness, meanness or vanity.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "displaying a touch of" when you want to subtly indicate a quality or characteristic without being overly direct or obvious. It's useful for nuanced descriptions.

Common error

Avoid using "displaying a touch of" in contexts where a more direct adjective would suffice. For example, instead of saying "The room was displaying a touch of blue", simply say "The room was slightly blue".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "displaying a touch of" functions as a descriptive element, typically modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate the presence of a subtle quality or characteristic. As Ludwig AI indicates, this describes something with a slight or subtle quality.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "displaying a touch of" is a phrase used to subtly indicate the presence of a particular quality or characteristic. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It functions descriptively, adding nuance to writing, and is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While grammatically sound, it's essential to use it judiciously to avoid overuse in simplistic descriptions. Alternatives such as "exhibiting a hint of" or "showing a trace of" can provide similar shades of meaning, depending on the context. The phrase is most often used in neutral to slightly formal registers, adding a layer of refinement to descriptive passages.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exhibiting a hint of

Replaces "displaying" with "exhibiting" and "touch" with "hint", emphasizing a slight indication.

showing a trace of

Uses "showing" instead of "displaying" and "trace" instead of "touch", suggesting a barely perceptible amount.

revealing a shade of

Employs "revealing" in place of "displaying" and "shade" for "touch", implying a subtle nuance.

demonstrating a glimmer of

Substitutes "displaying" with "demonstrating" and "touch" with "glimmer", suggesting a faint sign.

presenting a suggestion of

Replaces "displaying" with "presenting" and "touch" with "suggestion", indicating a subtle implication.

implying a whisper of

Uses "implying" instead of "displaying" and "whisper" for "touch", suggesting a very faint indication.

betraying a suspicion of

Employs "betraying" in place of "displaying" and "suspicion" for "touch", implying a subtle doubt.

emitting a tinge of

Substitutes "displaying" with "emitting" and "touch" with "tinge", suggesting a slight color or feeling.

having a suspicion of

Uses "having" instead of "displaying", implies a slight doubt or inkling.

giving off a scent of

Replaces "displaying" with "giving off", suggesting a subtle aroma or indication.

FAQs

How can I use "displaying a touch of" in a sentence?

You can use "displaying a touch of" to subtly indicate a quality. For example, "The performance was "displaying a touch of" brilliance" suggests it was subtly brilliant.

What are some alternatives to "displaying a touch of"?

Some alternatives include "exhibiting a hint of", "showing a trace of", or "revealing a shade of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "displaying a touch of" and "showing a touch of"?

While similar, "displaying a touch of" might suggest a more intentional or noticeable presentation, while "showing a touch of" is more neutral. The choice depends on the context and the intended emphasis. "Displaying a touch of" elegance sounds more refined than just showing.

When is it appropriate to use "displaying a touch of" in writing?

It's appropriate when you want to subtly suggest a quality without stating it directly. It's useful in descriptive writing where nuance and subtlety are valued, for example, The sunset was "displaying a touch of" melancholic beauty.