tocar de cerca
/tokaɾ de θeɾka/from spelling rules
The English phrase "hit close to home" can be translated into Spanish as tocar de cerca.
The phrase tocar de cerca is used when a topic, news item or comment resonates with someone's personal life or vulnerabilities.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb tocar must be conjugated to match the subject of the sentence, while de cerca remains unchanged.
How do you pronounce it?
/tokaɾ de θeɾka/
Did you know?
- While tocar means 'to touch' or 'to affect' here, it can also mean 'to be one's turn' in a game or sequence.
- The word cerca in this phrase is a direct linguistic relative of the English word 'circa', used to denote things that are approximate or around a certain point.
- The word tocar in the phrase tocar de cerca is the same verb used to describe playing a musical instrument.
Examples in context
- La historia de María tocó la fibra sensible de todos los asistentesMaria's story hit close to home for all attendees
- Ese comentario me tocó de cerca.That comment hit close to home for me.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cerca, de, tocar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
