Definition

Verb: - To make contact or communicate with someone, typically briefly, to exchange information or updates. It often implies reconnecting after a period of no contact or checking in to maintain a connection.

Usage

This phrasal verb is commonly used in informal and professional contexts to describe the act of briefly contacting someone. - It is often followed by the preposition "with" to specify the person contacted. - It suggests a short, informal update rather than a long, detailed conversation.

Examples

• "I need to touch base with my manager about the project timeline."
• "Let's touch base next week to discuss the details."
• "He touched base with his old friend while he was in town."

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can be used in a continuous tense to describe an ongoing practice: "We are touching base regularly to ensure we're on the same page."
• It can be nominalized (used as a noun) in informal business English: "Let's have a quick touch-base to align our goals." (Note: This noun form is often hyphenated).

Variants and Related Words

• Touchpoint (n): A specific instance of contact or interaction with a person, especially in business or customer service contexts.
  • Example: "Our first touchpoint with the client was very positive."

Synonyms

• Check in: To make contact to report or confirm status.
• Connect: To establish communication.
• Reach out: To initiate contact, often to offer help or start a conversation.
• Get in touch: To make contact with someone.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Catch up (with): To talk to someone you have not seen for a while to learn what has happened in their life. This often implies a longer, more detailed conversation than "touch base."
  • Example: "We should meet for coffee and catch up."

Related Idioms

• Compare notes: To exchange information or opinions about a shared experience. This is more specific than "touch base" as it focuses on sharing comparative insights.
  • Example: "After the conference, we got together to compare notes."

Verb

1. establish communication with someone
   • did you finally connect with your long-lost cousin?