- Means to make brief contact with someone again at a future time, usually to check on progress, share updates, or reconnect.
- Implies a relatively short, informal contact rather than a long meeting.
Explanation
Origin
- Originates from baseball, where a runner must touch base (physically contact the base) to be safe or to advance legally.
- Metaphorically, it means making a necessary point of contact or checking in briefly before moving on. Popularized in business jargon from the mid-to-late 20th century.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Hit me up later. / Hit me back later. (Contact me later, very informal)
- Ping me later. (Send me a quick message, often digital context)
- Catch you later. (General farewell, implies future contact)
More Formal:
- Let's schedule a follow-up conversation.
- I will contact you again at a later time.
- Shall we reconnect later this week?
Situational Appropriateness
- Very common in business and professional settings. Can sometimes be seen as slightly cliché business jargon.
- Also used informally between friends or acquaintances.
- Generally seen as polite and efficient.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The baseball origin is irrelevant to understanding its meaning, but learners need to grasp it means make brief contact and isn't a literal instruction. Some native speakers dislike it as overused jargon.
Examples
- I need to check those figures first. Can we touch base later this afternoon?
- Great initial meeting! Let's touch base later in the week to discuss next steps.
- Just calling to touch base about the project status.
Dialogue
Manager: Thanks for the presentation draft. I need some time to review it thoroughly.
Employee: Okay, no problem.
Manager: Let's touch base later this afternoon, say around 4 PM, for any initial feedback?
Employee: Sounds good. I'll be available.
Friend 1: I'm thinking about that trip we discussed.
Friend 2: Me too! I'm swamped right now, though. Can we touch base later tonight?
Friend 1: Sure thing. Text me when you're free.
Social Media Examples
- LinkedIn Message: Thanks for connecting! Busy now, but let's touch base later next week to discuss potential collaborations.
- Email: Acknowledging receipt of your email. I'll review the document and touch base later today with any questions.
- Slack: Need to jump on a call, can we touch base later on this channel?
Response Patterns
- Sure, sounds good.
- Okay, what time works for you?
- Will do. I'll message you.
- Alright, talk then.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After suggesting Let's touch base later:
- The other person usually agrees.
- Sometimes, a specific time or method is agreed upon (Okay, call me around 3?, Sure, ping me on Slack?).
- If not specified, there's a mutual understanding to reconnect relatively soon (later that day, later that week).
The actual touching base:
- This later contact happens (a call, message, quick meeting) focusing on the specific reason (update, check-in).
Conversation Starter
- No. Used to schedule a future point of contact, usually at the end of a current interaction or when immediate discussion isn't possible.
Intonation
- Usually said in a neutral, professional, or friendly tone.
- Emphasis can be on TOUCH BASE and LATER.
- Let's TOUCH BASE LATER.
Generation Differences
- Widely used, particularly in professional contexts across generations. May be slightly more prevalent among Gen X and Millennials who adopted it heavily in corporate culture. Younger generations might use sync up or ping me more often in tech/startup contexts.
Regional Variations
- Very common in American English business contexts. Also used and understood in UK/Aus/etc., though perhaps with slightly less frequency or seen as more Americanised jargon.