fear touched

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fear touched" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a moment or feeling where fear has an emotional or physical impact on someone. Example: "As she stood at the edge of the cliff, a sense of dread washed over her, and she felt fear touched her heart."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

A FRISSON of fear touched the London property market briefly on news that Dubai World was delaying repayment of some of its $60 billion £366 billion) in debt.

The Economist

The weekend protests almost uniformly scorned the rebels, underscoring the popular anger and fear touched off by the resumption of terrorism, apparently by the Basque group.

The New York Times

Noah Lee described Anna and Elsa's relationship as "genuine", saying, "watching those themes of family and love versus isolation and fear touched my heart in more ways than one".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

For the exhibition, Mr. Dreicer has been collecting photographs and objects that illustrate the design of segregation, like how a for-sale sign, a seemingly neutral object, can telegraph a message of fear, touching off white flight from a community.

The New York Times - Arts

Here is a random selection: fear of insects, fear of noise, fear of dentists, fear of going to school, fear of cats, fear of being touched, fear of solitude, even fear of beards.

The Guardian

He said, 'Don't make any trouble, or you'll never see your families again.' " The hemophiliacs stormed the sanitarium's front gate and easily escaped, because guards feared touching them.

The New York Times

But it does suggest that if deflation fears touch off a panic sale in gold, copper, inflation-protected Treasury securities or other currently scorned inflation hedges, you might coolly consider becoming a buyer.

Forbes

As participants, we are encouraged both to fear touch – and to fear its removal.

The Guardian - Arts

If your daughter has been raped she may experience serious behavior problems such as withdrawal, abnormal sleeping patterns, fearing other people, fearing being alone or fearing being touched.

WikiHow

The administration's immediate response to the PRISM revelation was that Americans have nothing to fear: it touched only foreigners.

The Economist

The CBOE Volatility index, Wall Street's so-called fear gauge, touched its highest since October and notched its biggest-ever weekly percentage gain.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fear touched" to subtly convey how fear has a physical or emotional impact on a subject, rather than simply stating that someone is afraid.

Common error

Avoid using "fear touched" excessively in news reports; consider more direct and active verbs to describe the impact of fear for better clarity and stronger impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fear touched" functions as a descriptive phrase modifying a noun. It describes how fear has a tangible or emotional impact, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples where "fear touched" the London property market or a person's heart.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fear touched" is a grammatically sound and evocative way to describe the subtle but noticeable impact of fear. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, its relative infrequency suggests it should be used judiciously. Alternatives like "fear gripped" or "a sense of dread" may offer a stronger, more direct impact depending on the writing context. Primarily found in news and media, this phrase subtly conveys that fear isn't just present, but it actively influences the subject.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fear gripped

Indicates a sudden and intense feeling of fear.

fear enveloped

Suggests fear surrounded or consumed someone or something.

fear resonated

Implies fear echoed or had a widespread effect.

fear lingered

Indicates fear remained present over a period of time.

fear permeated

Suggests fear spread throughout something.

a wave of fear

Describes a sudden rush or surge of fear.

a sense of dread

Implies a feeling of impending doom or intense fear.

an atmosphere of fear

Describes the presence of fear as a prevailing mood or environment.

fear took hold

Suggests fear established itself firmly.

fear arose

Indicates fear emerged or came into existence.

FAQs

How can I use "fear touched" in a sentence?

You can use "fear touched" to describe a moment when fear has a tangible impact on something, such as "A frisson of fear touched the London property market briefly on news that Dubai World was delaying repayment..."

What are some alternatives to "fear touched"?

You can use alternatives like "fear gripped", "fear enveloped", or "a sense of dread" depending on the specific context.

Is "fear touched" grammatically correct?

Yes, "fear touched" is grammatically correct, though it is a somewhat evocative and less common phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

What does "fear touched off" mean?

"Fear touched off" means that something triggered or initiated fear, leading to a particular reaction or event, such as "Deflation fears "touch off" a panic sale..."