golden touch
Synonym of Midas touch (“the ability to achieve financial reward (or, more generally, success) easily and consistently”).
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He has a golden touch with every business he starts.”
“Investors trust her with their money because she seems to have a golden touch when picking new companies.”
“Throughout his long career, the architect possessed a golden touch, transforming even the most neglected urban spaces into highly profitable and celebrated landmarks.”
The term originates from the Greek legend of King Midas, famously recorded in the year 8 C.E. within the eleventh chapter of Ovid’s Metamorphoses. The narrative concerns a gift granted by Dionysus, the god of wine and winemaking, who bestowed upon the king the ability to transform any object into gold simply by touching it.
The Midas touch, as the phenomenon is also known, represents a specific instance of divine generosity proving rather inconvenient in practice. While the source term focuses on the initial acquisition of the power, the surviving idiom retains the association with Midas and his particular method of metallurgical production.
- 01
common touch
The personal quality of showing understanding of and sympathy for the concerns of ordinary people; rapport with and acceptance by ordinary people, usually in a celebrity or leader.
- 02
everything one touches turns to gold
Everything someone uses or does succeeds or becomes better.
- 03
everything one touches turns to shit
Everything someone uses or does fails or becomes worse.
- 04
golden age
A period of happiness, peace, prosperity, and great progress.
- 05
golden goose
Something that generates much profit or gives great advantages.
- 06
golden handcuffs
Any arrangement or agreement designed to provide extremely favorable benefits or pay, so as to discourage a participant from choosing to leave it, especially to retain a choice employee in a role that is unpleasant to them.
- 07
golden handshake
A generous severance payment, especially as an inducement to leave employment.
- 08
golden hello
A payment offered to an employee as an inducement to join, especially if currently working for a competitor.
Last updated August 10, 2026