Meaning of Idiom ‘The Midas Touch’
The Midas touch is the ability to make money no matter what idea one tries; a gift for easily making money or being financially successful.
Sentence Examples
“Vance had the Midas touch. He started a business out of his garage, and in a year, he was a millionaire.”
“This young actor has the Midas touch, with every movie he becomes involved in breaking box office records and earning him millions.”
“I didn’t hire you for stupid ideas. I hired you because of your Midas touch. Now my approval ratings are in the toilet and the election is just weeks…” — Iron Sky (2012)
“Look at this! The kid’s got the Midas touch with the broads!” — The Cotton Club (1984)
“Savannah said your father was always losing money. Is that true?” “That’s an understatement. Henry Wingo had the opposite of the Midas touch. Everything he touched turned to shit.” — The Prince of Tides (1991)
“Okay, so who is he?” Leo Gillette… he’s known as the Midas touch of crime. He’s done bank jobs, armoured cars. He’s smart, careful, never a day of jail time.” — Foolproof (2003)
Origin of “The Midas Touch”
The Midas touch has been used figuratively since the mid-1600s, although it’s popular use as an idiom didn’t really take hold until the late 1800s. It comes from the story of Midas, a figure from Greek myth who was the king of Phrygia, a part of Anatolia which is now Asian Turkey. He inherited the throne from his parents, the goddess Cybele and Gordius, his father. Midas’s foolishness causes him two distinct misfortunes, one in which he is given donkey ears by an angry God, and another in which he makes a very ill-advised wish.
Midas is a devotee of the god Dionysus, whose followers are known to be given to revelry. One day, some Phrygians are working the fields when old Silenus, who is sometimes said to be a satyr and who is a companion of Dionysus, wanders into the field drunk. The farmers take advantage of his drunken state and tie him up with chains made with flowers, leading him to King Midas.
Midas is delighted when he recognizes Silenus, whom he knows to be a follower of Dionysus. The king treats Silenus with great respect and orders a festival in his honor, before returning Silenus to Dionysus.
Dionysus is grateful to have his companion returned and offers Midas a reward. Midas asks that everything he touches should be turned to gold. The god tries to warn him and asks Midas, “Are you quite certain?” Midas replied that yes, he definitely wanted the “gold touch.” So, Dionysus granted his wish.
Midas soon found that the god had been true to his word. He picked up objects like flowers and pebbles, and they turned instantly into gold. He even turned trees into gold by touching them. He set about planning all the things he would turn to gold, including his palace and his clothing. His day of gold-colored dreams ended at dinnertime. His servants brought his meal of bread and meat to him. When he broke off some bread, the bread turned to gold. When he tried to eat some meat, it turned to gold as soon as it touched his lips. He couldn’t even drink his wine. It turned to liquid molten gold when he tried to drink it.
Midas realized that he would starve amidst a fortune in gold. And he couldn’t even touch his children or wife. He prayed to Dionysus to please take the gift away, saying that he had indeed been foolish to ask for it. Dionysus agreed to take the golden touch away, telling Midas to go to the River Pactolus and bathe in it, so that the water would wash away the gift of gold. Midas did so, and the gold touch was lifted. Flecks of gold were found in the sands of the river from then on.
Did You Know? The Golden Sands of Pactolus
According to the legend, Dionysus told Midas to wash away his “curse” in the source of the River Pactolus (located in modern-day Turkey). When Midas bathed in the waters, the golden touch left his body and transferred into the river itself.
This story wasn’t just a fairy tale—it was the ancient world’s way of explaining a geological fact. The River Pactolus was famous in antiquity for being rich in electrum (a natural alloy of gold and silver). These “golden sands” provided the massive wealth of the Lydian Empire and allowed them to become the first civilization to strike gold coins.
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Retelling
There are many versions of this story, of course, and in some more modern versions,, he actually does turn his family to gold but is able to undo it with some of the water from the river.
In 1852, Nathaniel Hawthorne published A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys, which included a retelling of the Midas myth. This version is actually the first time the macabre detail of Midas accidentally turning his daughter to gold first appeared. While Midas certainly had his trials and tribulations, in the original story, his suffering did not quite rise to that level!
Listen to the Full Legend of King Midas
For those looking to improve their English listening skills or hear the complete, unhurried story of the Golden Touch, you can listen to our full audio story below.
Looking for more mythology? Check out our breakdown of the Sword of Damocles
or the hero Achilles.
Modern Use of the Midas Touch Metaphor
Mentions of the “golden touch” are ancient, but the specific phrase “Midas Touch” did not appear in print until the late 1800s, during the rise of the great American industrialists.
Midas vs. Damocles: Two Sides of a Golden Coin
Though both King Midas and Damocles are figures from Greek legend who deal with the perils of wealth and status, they represent different warnings:
| Feature | The Midas Touch | The Sword of Damocles |
| The Core Theme | Greed and unintended consequences. | Anxiety and the precariousness of power. |
| The “Gift” | A magical ability to turn anything to gold. | A seat at a royal banquet with every luxury. |
| The Catch | He cannot eat, drink, or touch loved ones. | A razor-sharp sword hangs over his head by a horsehair. |
| The Lesson | Be careful what you wish for; wealth isn’t everything. | Peace of mind is impossible when you are constantly at risk. |
| Feature | The Midas Touch | The Sword of Damocles |
| The Core Theme | Greed and unintended consequences. | Anxiety and the precariousness of power. |
| The “Gift” | A magical ability to turn anything to gold. | A seat at a royal banquet with every luxury. |
| The Catch | He cannot eat, drink, or touch loved ones. | A razor-sharp sword hangs over his head by a horsehair. |
| The Lesson | Be careful what you wish for; wealth isn’t everything. | Peace of mind is impossible when you are constantly at risk. |
The Distinction: Use Midas Touch when someone has a “gift” for making money or finding success. Use Sword of Damocles when someone is in a high-stakes position where disaster could strike at any moment.
Further Reading: A Treasury of Myths
- Rise From the Ashes: While Midas’s story ends with him washing away a curse in a river to start anew, the Phoenix represents a literal cycle of death and rebirth. Discover the history of this ultimate symbol of resilience.
- Pandora’s Box: Both Midas and Pandora were given “gifts” from the gods that turned out to be burdens. Explore the 16th-century translation error that turned a Greek jar into a famous box.
- Herculean Task: King Midas wanted wealth without effort, but Hercules earned his glory through twelve grueling labors. Learn the difference between a task of great strength and a task of endless frustration.
- Sword of Damocles: Midas learned that wealth can be a curse; Damocles learned that power brings constant anxiety. Explore the story of the king who sat under a literal hanging sword.
- Achilles’ Heel: While Midas had a “golden touch,” the hero Achilles had one fatal vulnerability. Discover the origin of this idiom for a hidden weakness.
- Sisyphean Task King Midas eventually found a way to end his struggle, but Sisyphus wasn’t so lucky. Learn about the man condemned to a labor that never ends.
- Dog Days — Most people think this phrase is about panting dogs, but like the Midas myth, its true roots are written in the ancient stars.