expression

lose your touch

to no longer have a former skill

In Idioms & Sayings

In more detail

(idiom) to no longer have a skill or ability that you previously had; to become worse at something you used to do well

Examples

After years away from tennis, he felt he'd lost his touch when he returned to the court.

How to use lose your touch

Used when someone who was previously skilled at something becomes noticeably less competent or effective. Often implies a regrettable or surprising change, with a tone of mild disappointment. Unlike 'lose your edge' (which focuses on competitive sharpness), 'lose your touch' emphasizes the loss of a particular talent or ability, and it's especially common in creative or interpersonal contexts.

Common phrases

seem to have lost your touch
lost your touch with
completely lost your touch
never lost your touch

Synonyms

lose your edge · lose your way · slip · decline

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use this as a single verb phrase (e.g., 'I lose-touched') rather than recognizing it as a fixed idiom with the verb 'lose' and noun 'touch' that cannot be rearranged.

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