touchytouch‧y /ˈtʌtʃi/ adjective 
Examples
She is very touchy about her past.2touchy subject/question etc a subject etc that needs to be dealt with very carefully, especially because it may offend people SYN sensitive: Asking about a reporter’s sources can be a touchy business.—touchiness noun [uncountable]
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- He's a great manager, he is very touchy about his lack of qualifications.
- He's a little touchy about how you pronounce his name.
- Some authors get very touchy if you make even the slightest alteration to their work.
- Try not to look at his scars - he can be really touchy about it.
- Until now both candidates have avoided talking about the touchy subject of health care reform.
- Why are you so touchy today?
- But this raises the politically touchy issue of corporate welfare.
- He could be touchy and irritable.
- Most committees ignore touchy problems until they go away of their own accord.
- Now I want to be fair, even with the bankers, for they are pretty touchy now.
- She was sensitive, but not this touchy.
- The touchy Mr K turned on his heel in disgust and departed the scene.
- This situation can be touchy, since the financial markets usually like stability.
Longman Language Activatoreasily annoyed► irritable
Collocations easily annoyed by unimportant things, especially because you already feel bad-tempered about something: · Since Steve quit smoking, he's been really irritable.· Zoe hadn't had much sleep and was feeling tired and irritable.· You're turning into an irritable old man.
► touchy someone who is touchy is easily offended and made angry by things, so you have to be careful what you say to them: · Saiid's a little touchy about how you pronounce her name.touchy about: · Try not to look at his scars - he can be really touchy about it.
► crotchety an old person who is crotchety becomes angry about unimportant things and complains a lot: · a crotchety old man· When we were in Germany, we rented a room from a crotchety old woman named Brunhilde.
► short-tempered/quick-tempered someone who is short-tempered gets angry quickly and easily: · Jackie can be very short-tempered when she's hungry.· Her father is a quick-tempered man.
► have a short fuse informal to often get angry quickly and easily: · They say the judge has a very short fuse.
a situation that is difficult to deal with or talk about► difficult a difficult situation or subject is not easy to deal with or talk about, and it makes you feel nervous or unhappy: · Things at home have been very difficult since my father died.be in a difficult position (=to have problems that are difficult to deal with): · Officials say they are in the difficult position of having to implement a law they strongly disagree with.
► awkward an awkward situation or subject is difficult to deal with or talk about, especially because it might be embarrassing: · He's at an age when kids start asking awkward questions - like 'Where do babies come from?'
► tricky a tricky situation is one that you have to deal with very carefully, because there are a lot of things that could easily go wrong: · Teachers often have to deal with tricky situations such as interviews with angry parents.it could/would be tricky to do something: · It would be very tricky to try to stabilize the region without the support of other countries.
► delicate a delicate matter, subject, situation etc is one that you must be very careful talking about or dealing with because you risk offending or upsetting people: · I am seeking your professional advice on a very delicate matter.· Madeline was wondering how to approach the delicate question of her salary with her new boss.
► sensitive something that is sensitive , such as a political or social problem or a document, is likely to cause trouble or be likely to upset someone: · The team is gathering information on the sensitive subject of child abuse.· The administration claims that the documents contain information of a highly sensitive political nature.
► touchy a touchy subject or situation is one that you must be very careful talking about or dealing with because you risk upsetting or offending someone: · Until now both candidates have avoided talking about the touchy subject of health care reform.
► hot potato informal a political problem that is very difficult for the government to deal with because there is a lot of disagreement about it: · Fortunately for the government, this issue has drawn attention away from the hot potato of funding the London Underground.
easily offended► be/get easily offended · Be careful what you say to Jenny; she's oversensitive and easily offended.be/get easily offended by · Barry gets easily offended by comments about his parents' divorce.
► touchy too easily offended, especially so that people are afraid to talk to you, or offer advice: · Some authors get very touchy if you make even the slightest alteration to their work.· Why are you so touchy today?touchy about: · He's a great manager, but he is very touchy about his lack of qualifications.
► sensitive very easily offended by a particular thing: · Paul is too sensitive for this job. He can't take even the smallest criticism.sensitive about: · He's sensitive about his bad teeth, so try not to look at them.· My children are very sensitive about being treated in a patronising way.
► prude someone who is easily offended by anything that is rude or connected with sex, especially in a way that other people think is unnecessary: · Sarah's no prude, but she thought some of the sex scenes were quite shocking.
► over-sensitive someone who is over-sensitive gets offended and upset very easily, because they always think other people are criticizing them, making fun of them etc: · It's not unusual for artists to be over-sensitive about their work.· Of course he wasn't saying you were overweight - you're just being over-sensitive.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a sensitive/touchy subject
Phrases (=one that people may get upset about)· Steer clear of complicated issues or sensitive subjects.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN► subject· Morris's lasting influence is a touchy subject at the White House.· You know money is a touchy subject with me.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► touchy subject/question etc
Word family- He also knew the answers to some touchy questions.
- Morris's lasting influence is a touchy subject at the White House.
- You know money is a touchy subject with me.
WORD FAMILYadjectivetoucheduntouchedtouchingtouchyuntouchablenountouchuntouchableverbtouchadverbtouchingly
1easily becoming offended or annoyed SYN sensitivetouchy about She is very touchy about her past.2touchy subject/question etc a subject etc that needs to be dealt with very carefully, especially because it may offend people SYN sensitive: Asking about a reporter’s sources can be a touchy business.—touchiness noun [uncountable]