to keep one's distance
32
3.9
- phrasal verb
:
mantener la distancia
- For safety reasons, you should always keep your distance from wild animals.
Examples
-
We will keep our distance, even from each other.
Fiction book (1997) -
All right, keep your distance there.
-
So, I just... thought it was better if I kept my distance.
-
He'll charge you, but keep your distance and use your speed.
-
You gotta be tough, keep your distance.
-
No, I told him, keep your distance.
-
Please, just... - Keep your distance.
-
All I have to do is keep my distance from now on.
Blog text (34) -
I needed to keep my distance.
Fiction book (1994) -
Hey, keep your distance, Parker!
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To stay away from something or not do it to stop something bad from happening
∞
2.3
To avoid touching and disturbing a person, animal or object
590
1.6
Keep a distance from people or things you want to avoid
384
2.3
Avoid going near people or places for safety
356
2.8
Move away from someone, or stop taking part in something
256
4.2
To keep someone or something apart from others
187
1.6
Stop someone or something from coming near
159
1.6
Move away and keep a safe distance from something or someone for safety
127
2.4
To stay away from a place, person, or thing
86
3.5
To move away from people or a place to create space
77
5.7
To make yourself less involved with someone or something
75
7.0
Keep away from someone or something to show no connection
56
3.8
To avoid getting involved in an argument or fight
43
3.2
To stop other people from getting close to you emotionally
41
4.6
Avoid doing something because you feel afraid or unsure
34
4.0
To stay away from people and things that may cause trouble or harm
27
5.4
To not tell others your thoughts or feelings
26
4.6
To avoid someone or something and refuse to meet and speak to them on purpose
23
8.9
To avoid something on purpose
15
3.7
To refuse to have anything to do with someone or something
10
6.3
To avoid getting too close to someone or something, often emotionally
2
6.7
To keep somebody away from other people
1
7.7
To move quietly to the side and away so people do not notice you
To create distance from someone or something to avoid being too close
Antonyms
How Distant
26
4.6
- Informal
34
4.0
32
3.9
384
2.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to deliberately stay away' is directly compositional from 'keep' (maintain) + 'one's' (possessive pronoun) + 'distance' (separation); a learner who knows these words can infer the instruction to maintain separation. The construction is a common, cross-linguistic pattern (e.g. Spanish 'mantener la distancia', French 'garder ses distances'), so a B1 learner would readily understand it.
Etymology
Keep one's distance comes from a clear image: you keep a safe distance by stepping back from someone or something so you do not get involved or hurt. That's why it means 'to stay away on purpose'.