nice to the touch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nice to the touch" is correct and can be used in written English.
You could use it to describe something that has a pleasant, smooth, or silky feel when touched. For example, "The new cotton sheets were nice to the touch and felt very soft against my skin."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"They're not exactly very nice to the touch.

Independent

One of the bedrooms has an earth wall, which is surprisingly nice to the touch: very hard, very tactile; a bit like a piece of Japanese pottery.

The Guardian - Arts

The SmartFlex Card features a polymer exterior that feels nice to the touch and absorbs shock in the event of a fall.

Forbes

I am worried about the material the grip is made of: a satin-finish plastic that's very nice to the touch but tends to attract fingerprints and oils.

TechCrunch

And the fabric that surrounds the keyboard looks and feels nice to the touch — though if you tend to use your laptop while eating, be wary.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Super-bright touchscreen with innovative tilt design, revealing a nice-to-the-touch QWERTY keypad?

TechCrunch

Still, it is very speedy, has great battery life, all buttons are placed just right and of all the phones I've played with it's arguably the one that feels nicest to the touch.

BBC

Safari brings some nice functionality to the Touch Bar.

TechCrunch

"It's nice to touch the puck a little more on a day like today and get a little sweat," he said Tuesday after he joined a few teammates on the ice in suburban Cranberry Township.

Los Angeles Times

It's also nice and soft to the touch, unlike the cold plastic of the competition.

TechCrunch

1. Print books have pages that are nice and soft to the touch.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing products or materials, use "nice to the touch" to convey a sense of quality and desirability.

Common error

Avoid using "nice to the touch" in highly formal or scientific writing. Opt for more technical or descriptive language such as "exhibits a smooth surface texture" or "possesses a soft, pliable quality".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nice to the touch" primarily functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to describe its tactile quality. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, and examples show it describing materials or objects with pleasing textures.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "nice to the touch" is a grammatically correct and relatively common way to describe something with a pleasing tactile quality. Ludwig AI confirms this. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts. While versatile, it's best to avoid overuse in highly formal or scientific writing, opting for more precise descriptive terms. Related phrases include "pleasant to touch" or "soft to the touch". Using this phrase effectively enhances descriptions by appealing to the reader's sense of touch.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Pleasant to touch

Focuses on the agreeable sensation of touching something.

Agreeable to the touch

Emphasizes the pleasing nature of the tactile experience.

Soft to the touch

Highlights the softness as the primary tactile quality.

Smooth to the touch

Focuses on the absence of roughness when touched.

Comfortable to hold

Emphasizes the comfort experienced while holding something.

Feels good to touch

A more informal way to express a pleasant tactile sensation.

Has a nice feel

General expression indicating a pleasant tactile quality.

Lovely to handle

Emphasizes the pleasure of manipulating something.

Delightful to touch

Highlights the high degree of pleasure from tactile interaction.

Appealing to the sense of touch

Focuses on the attractiveness to the sense of touch.

FAQs

How can I describe a material that feels good?

You could say it is "pleasant to touch", "soft to the touch", or that it "feels good to touch".

What does it mean when something is described as "nice to the touch"?

It means the item has a texture or surface quality that is pleasing or enjoyable when touched.

Which is a more formal way to say "nice to the touch"?

More formal alternatives include "possesses a smooth texture" or "exhibits a soft surface".

Can "nice to the touch" be used to describe abstract concepts?

While primarily used for physical textures, it can metaphorically describe experiences or interactions that feel comforting or pleasant, though this usage is less common.