soft touch
noun1
Idiomatic A person or group that is sympathetic, accommodating, easily overcome, or easily persuaded, especially one that loans or readily gives money to another.
- But Fred Heimach, who batted for Quinn in the Brooklyn half and fanned, proved a soft touch for the Cardinals in the ninth.1931 August 15, Roscoe McGowen, “Baseball: Cards, in farewell, upset Robins, 9-3”, in New York Times, page 11:
- She was a soft touch for anyone with a genuine need.2004, Jeanette Windle, Firestorm, →ISBN, page 55:
1 more example
- The federal opposition says people smugglers now see Australia as a soft touch on border security.2008 December 8, “Get tough on border security, oppn”, in Sky News, Australia, retrieved 08 Dec 2008:
2
Idiomatic A comfortable situation; an easy task or undemanding occupation, especially one which is comfortably remunerative.
- Many people, not in the teaching profession, have the mistaken idea that teaching is a "soft touch."1939, T. Mitchell, “The ‘Soft Touch’ in Teaching”, in Washington Education, volume 71, number 1, page 28:
- I finally abandoned any lingering illusions I had had that Ministry work was a soft touch.1998, James Herriot, All Creatures Great and Small, →ISBN, page 266: