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touched by, be

touched by, be idiom

Also, be touched with. Be affected by some emotion, especially a tender feeling like gratitude, pity, or sympathy. For example, She was very touched by his concern for her welfare. This idiom alludes to touching or reaching one's heart, the seat of emotions. [First half of 1300s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.