for: Touché (disambiguation)

In fencing, touché (/tu.ʃe/) is used as an acknowledgement of a hit, called out by the fencer who is hit. A referee can call out touché to refer to a touch being called – for example, the French call for "no point" is "pas touché" (English: no touch).

It is from the infinitive verb "toucher", which means to touch. It is changed to the past participle by removing the -er ending and adding the appropriate ending (-é).

The word touché is often used in "popular culture" and general conversation – for example, in an argument or debate. If one person presents an argument and another delivers a clever or appropriate response, the first person may respond with "touché" as a way of acknowledging a good response. A synonym of this word would be "good point".

Emerging usage

"Touché" may be used in informal conversations as a defense against veiled criticism (veiled sarcasm). The receiver of a veiled criticism speaks the word to show that the veiled message has been "seen through" and that the "hit" has been felt. The receiver says "touché" to point out to the sender that the attempt to veil the hit was unsuccessful.

In this way, saying "touché" is a defense against subtle denunciation (often in the presence of others), especially when the sender is attempting to demonstrate that the receiver has insufficient awareness to feel the hit – a kind of intellectual subordination on the part of the sender. Saying "touché" in such a context neutralizes and exposes the sender's intentions and is especially effective when it is understood – by all present – that an attempt to veil such criticism reflects poorly on the sender in some way (passive-aggressive, disingenuous, deceitful, etc.).

In addition, "touché" is increasingly appropriate as a response to a message that may not be intended as offensive or critical, but is nevertheless taken as such. "Touché" can inform the sender that the message is a "hit" regardless of intentions.

You can also say "touché" when your opponent in a debate uses a winning argument or insult to acknowledge, in a friendly or funny way, that he or she won the debate.