Touch base

Posted by Bob on October 01, 1999

In Reply to: Touch base posted by Joel G on September 30, 1999

: does anyone know where the phrase "touch base" comes from? As in, "I just wanted to touch base with you." Is it a baseball reference?? Military reference???

I always assumed it was baseball. After a foul ball, the runner must return to (and touch) the base, to begin the rhythm of the game over again. It's a return to the status quo ante, a momentary rebalancing and reconsideration. Same tactics? A new play? Start over.

In life, we like to believe the metaphor applies, that change is not continuous, that we can truly touch base with people as if nothing had changed permanently and eternally. Pretty belief.