Midas touch

English

Etymology

From the Greek legend of King Midas, related in chapter XI of Ovid’s Metamorphoses (8 C.E.), whom Dionysus (the god of, among other things, wine and winemaking) gave the power to turn things to gold by touching them.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /ˌmaɪdəs ˈtʌt͡ʃ/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Mi‧das touch

Proper noun

Midas touch

1. (Greek mythology, literally) The ability to turn everything one touches into gold.
2. (idiomatic) The ability to achieve financial reward (or, more generally, success) from one's actions easily and consistently.

   Synonym: golden touch

   Antonym: reverse Midas touch

Derived terms

• reverse Midas touch

 

Translations

ability to gain financial reward or success from one’s actions easily and consistently

• Finnish: Midaan kosketus
• Galician: toque de Midas m
• Italian: tocco di Mida m
• Portuguese: toque de Midas m

See also

• chrysopoeia

Anagrams

• mustachio'd