Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to keep at arm's length

to keep at arm's length

10 6.3
To avoid getting too close to someone or something, often emotionally
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : mantener a distancia
  • To avoid any emotional complications, I prefer to keep my colleagues at arm's length.

Examples

  • Oh, l've always tried to keep them at arm's length, myself.

    Live and Let Die (1973)

  • I keep him at arm's length.

    Ruby in Paradise (1993)

  • Keeping people out of one's personal zone may be called, "keeping them at arm's length."

    Academic text (1998)

  • I have been keeping God at arm's length for quite some time now.

    Academic text (2001)

  • I have a feeling what is at the bottom of this, but people keep you at arm's length.

    Blog text (14)

  • I prefer to keep my son at arm's length.

    Batman: Bad Blood (2016)

  • I have a few male friends, but I keep them at arm's length emotionally.

    Blog text (13)

  • I've always thought the secret of dealing with death was to keep it at arm's length.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • After the incident, she decided to keep him at arm's length to protect her feelings.

  • It's wise to keep toxic people at arm's length if you want peace in your life.

Synonyms

to avoid
vsto keep at arm's length
∞ 1.0

To stay away from something or not do it to stop something bad from happening

focuses on maintaining a cautious personal distance rather than general noninvolvement
to stay away
vsto keep at arm's length
590 1.6

Keep a distance from people or things you want to avoid

maintains a cautious emotional distance to prevent close personal involvement
to stay away from
vsto keep at arm's length
384 2.3

Avoid going near people or places for safety

prefers a cautious social distance rather than only avoiding danger
to keep away
vsto keep at arm's length
187 1.6

Stop someone or something from coming near

prefers to stay at a cautious personal distance rather than making others move back
to stand back
vsto keep at arm's length
159 1.6

Move away and keep a safe distance from something or someone for safety

maintains a cautious distance without physically stepping back
to distance oneself from
vsto keep at arm's length
75 7.0

Keep away from someone or something to show no connection

maintains a cautious emotional gap without full separation
to stay out of it
vsto keep at arm's length
56 3.8

To avoid getting involved in an argument or fight

maintains a safe distance from situations rather than joining them
to steer clear of
vsto keep at arm's length
  • Informal
34 4.0

To stay away from people and things that may cause trouble or harm

maintains cautious distance whether danger is present or not
to keep one's distance
vsto keep at arm's length
32 3.9

To stay away from people or things to avoid close contact

maintains a cautious distance to avoid deep involvement

Antonyms

embrace
20 3.4

A warm, willing acceptance of someone or an idea

to get in the swim
  • Informal
8.4

To start taking part in an activity or group

How Close

to confide
113 4.6
to befriend
61 3.0
to keep at arm's length
10 6.3
to avoid
∞ 1.0
to shun
26 4.6

Surface Forms

keep at arm's length infinitive
keeping at arm's length present participle
keeps at arm's length third person singular
kept at arm's length past
kept at arm's length past participle

Morphology

keep + at + arm's + length

The phrase literally combines 'keep' (maintain) + 'at' (position) + 'arm's length' (a short, measurable physical distance), so the meaning 'maintain a safe or cautious distance' is directly derivable from the parts; the physical measure is extended metaphorically to social distance but remains compositional. This is a common, cross-linguistic metaphorical pattern, so an average B1 learner who knows the constituent words can infer the intended sense.

Etymology

The idiom keep at arm's length comes from a simple picture: you hold someone at the end of your arm so they stay just out of reach, and the idea of an arm's length is a safe distance you keep. So the phrase means to 'avoid becoming too involved' and to stay cautious and not let someone get too close.