touch off

引き起こす、誘発する

出来事、特に急速に悪化しうる問題を引き起こすこと。

やさしい英語で： To cause something to start, especially trouble that may quickly become worse.

• His joke touched off an argument.
• The arrests touched off protests across the city.
• Could this decision touch off another crisis?

使い方： touch off something (The announcement touched off a heated debate.)

類義語： trigger, spark, set off

よく使う表現： touch off protests, touch off an argument, touch something off

発火させる、火災を引き起こす

火をつけたり、火災を起こしたりすること。

やさしい英語で： To make a fire start.

• A spark touched off the fire.
• The hot engine touched off a grass fire.
• One match can touch off a forest fire.

使い方： touch off something (A faulty wire touched off a fire.)

類義語： ignite, start, set off

反対語： extinguish

よく使う表現： touch off a fire, touch off forest fires

タッチオフする、接触させて原点を設定する

工作機械の工具を材料や機械の面に軽く触れさせ、基準位置を決めること。

やさしい英語で： To set a machine tool's starting position by bringing it gently against the material or machine surface.

• Touch off the tool before cutting.
• She touched off on the metal block.
• Have you touched off the cutter on the machine bed?

使い方： touch off on something (Touch off on the top surface before cutting.)

類義語： set the tool datum

よく使う表現： touch off the tool, touch off on something