Midas touch

noun

1. the ability to turn any business venture one is associated with into an extremely profitable one.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Midas touch¹

First recorded in 1880–85; Midas

Example Sentences

Despite a hugely profitable year, Goldman Sachs has lost its Midas touch as the premier investment bank.

From The Daily Beast

With Lawrence's Midas touch the corporation would also realize millions in profits if the deal went through.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Midas Touch

What does Midas touch mean?

Midas touch is the ability to turn any business into a profitable one, as in The CEO had the Midas touch, managing to turn the business into a highly successful company. 

A person who always seems to be able to make anything into a success is said to have the Midas touch, as in Kathy must have the Midas touch because her team wins every game she plays in. The phrase is almost always meant as glowing praise or a big compliment.

Example: Jake would need the Midas touch to turn the failing business into a success.

Where does Midas touch come from?

The first records of the phrase Midas touch come from around 1880.  It is a reference to the Greek mythology figure King Midas, who was given the ability to turn anything into gold just by touching it. A person who has the Midas touch can figuratively turn anything they touch into a success. The phrase ignores the fact that King Midas eventually saw his power as a curse.

Midas touch is used to mean a person is so successful at anything they do that it seems like a superpower or a blessing. Usually, Midas touch is used to mean someone is good at making money, helping businesses make money, or creating things that make a lot of money.

However, Midas touch is also used to describe success in general, such as a coach who leads multiple championship teams or artists who seem to always make masterpieces. The musician Drake, for example, claims to have the Midas touch in his 2015 song “Back to Back.”  Given Drake’s massive success and ability to sell more digital singles than anyone else, it is hard to argue with his claim.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for Midas touch?

• golden touch

What are some words that share a root or word element with Midas touch? 

 

• Midas
• touch

What are some words that often get used in discussing Midas touch?

• success
• gifted
• got
• have

How is Midas touch used in real life?

Midas touch is used to describe very successful people in a wide variety of fields or businesses.

Toy Story 3 is the best movie in a sub-par year thus far. It's got everything for everyone. Pixar has the Midas touch.

— Patrick Green (@ByPatrickGreen) June 25, 2010

More than education, more than connection, more than luck, clarity of purpose is what you need for success. If you have clarity about your purpose, you will have the Midas Touch. Clear goals lead to clear vision. Clear vision leads to clear provision #RenosNuggets #EndSARS

— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) December 11, 2020

I just believe that Nadine have a Midas Touch. Everything that she is working on is simply turning to gold. She can basically try every genres and music styles and still succeed.

— 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐲 🌟 (@quetombelanuit) December 13, 2020

 

 

Try using Midas touch!

Is Midas touch used correctly in the following sentence?

Analysts say the young executive has the Midas touch because every company she was part of became a huge success.