to put extra or finishing touches to
to enhance, renovate, or falsify by putting extra touches to
to touch up a photograph
to stimulate or rouse as by a tap or light blow
slang to touch or caress (someone), esp to arouse sexual feelings
First recorded in 1880–85; noun use of verb phrase touch up
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But the team doesn’t just apply a flattering touch-up to sickly markets.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 14, 2026
She tried not to over-process her hair when she had a relaxer, and would sometimes wait six weeks or two months before getting a touch-up.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 2, 2023
People aspire to capture their essence by wearing their fragrances and makeup, which Rihanna acknowledged by subtly promoting her Fenty cosmetics line mid-performance with an on-camera touch-up.
From Salon • Feb. 17, 2023
Between scenes, as he received a touch-up from a makeup artist, his co-star Ts Madison paused to admire his costume.
From New York Times • May 18, 2022
I was missing the idea of Mom, not the actual human with her thin lips, round cheeks, and dyed blonde hair that needs a touch-up after so many weeks in hiding.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
