common touch

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English

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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common touch (plural common touches)

  1. (idiomatic) The personal quality of showing understanding of and sympathy for the concerns of ordinary people; rapport with and acceptance by ordinary people, usually in a celebrity or leader.
    • 1895, Rudyard Kipling, If—:
      If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
      Or walk with kings—nor lose the common touch;
      . . .
      Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it
    • 1986 February 17, John Moody, “Nigeria Striking a Delicate Balance”, in Time, retrieved 16 October 2013:
      The crowd roared its approval and gave a standing ovation to the new President of Africa's most populous nation. That common touch has served Babangida well.
    • 1996 May 4, Eric Schmitt, “New Top Admiral to Push Wider Combat Role for Women”, in New York Times, retrieved 16 October 2013:
      The admiral is the first enlisted man to lead the Navy, and Navy aides are busy cultivating his image as a four-star officer with a common touch.
    • 2013 September 25, Jeff Jacoby, “Pope’s interview is fodder for the culture war”, in Boston Globe, retrieved 16 October 2013:
      From the first moments of his papacy it has been evident that Francis is a “people person,” with a gentle common touch and a gift for pastoral outreach.

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