ENGLISH
REFERENCE

touch oneself

idiom
Meaning

To masturbate.


Examples
SIMPLE

He was embarrassed when someone caught him touching himself.

CONTEXTUAL

The therapist explained that it is normal for teenagers to touch themselves as they learn about their bodies.

COMPLEX

While the topic remains a social taboo in many cultures, experts often emphasize that it is healthy for individuals to touch themselves in private.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    adorn oneself with borrowed plumes

    To claim the honor of another for oneself.

  2. 02

    apply oneself

    Synonym of strive: to work hard, to complete an activity with good effort and focus.

  3. 03

    be oneself

    To behave or act naturally, without regard to how this behavior is perceived by others.

  4. 04

    bear oneself

    To behave and conduct oneself in a particular manner.

  5. 05

    box oneself into a corner

    To create a predicament or problem for oneself; to do something that leaves one with no good alternatives or solutions.

  6. 06

    buy a dog and bark oneself

    To do something that one has hired someone else to do.

  7. 07

    carry oneself

    To move, especially emphasizing the manner in which one moves.

  8. 08

    come to oneself

    To gain consciousness or self-control.

Last updated April 17, 2026