- To make brief contact with someone, typically to check in, get/give a quick update, or re-establish communication.
Explanation
Origin
- Believed to originate from baseball terminology, where a runner must touch each base.
- Metaphorically means briefly connecting on a specific point ('base') before moving on. Popularized in business jargon.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Check in. (Very common, less formal)
- Sync up. (Common in project/tech teams)
- Holler at me. / Hit me up. (Very informal, AAVE influence 'contact me')
- Give me a shout. (UK/Aus informal 'contact me')
Milder/Standard:
- Let's connect soon.
- Can we have a quick chat?
- I'll follow up with you.
More Formal:
- I'd like to schedule a brief follow-up.
- Let us connect for an update.
Situational Appropriateness
- Very common in business and professional settings (emails, calls, meetings).
- Can be used informally, but check in or catch up might sound more natural in purely social contexts. Can sound a bit 'corporate'.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Non-native speakers might not understand the metaphor. Explain it means make brief contact for an update, not physical touching.
Examples
- Let's touch base early next week to discuss progress.
- I'm calling just to touch base about the meeting agenda for tomorrow.
Dialogue
Manager: Hi Ken, just wanted to touch base quickly on the Apex project. Any updates since yesterday?
Ken: Hi boss. Yes, the client approved the mock-ups this morning. I was about to email you.
Manager: Great news! Thanks for the update. No need to email now.
Ken: Okay, sounds good.
Social Media Examples
- LinkedIn Message: Hi Sarah, Hope you're having a productive week. Just wanted to touch base regarding the collaboration proposal we discussed. Any thoughts? Best, John
- Team Chat (e.g., Slack): @Mike Can we touch base for 5 mins this afternoon about the Q4 report figures? Let me know when's good.
Response Patterns
- Okay, sounds good.
- Sure, when/how should we connect?
- Will do. / Okay.
- Great, talk soon.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After suggesting or agreeing to touch base:
- Often clarify the time or method (Okay, call me Tuesday?, Should I email you?).
The actual touching base:
- Involves a brief conversation, call, or message focused on the specific update needed.
Conversation Starter
- Yes. Can be used to initiate contact (Hi [Name], just wanted to touch base about...).
Intonation
- Stress usually on TOUCH BASE. Let's TOUCH BASE later.
- Tone is typically neutral, efficient, professional, or friendly-professional.
Generation Differences
- More frequently used by working adults (approx. 30s-60s), especially in corporate or organizational environments.
- Might sound slightly formal or business-like to younger people in casual settings.
Regional Variations
- Extremely common in American English business contexts. Also used in other regions (UK, Aus, etc.) but perhaps less pervasively.