Keep Something or Someone at Arm's Length.
English
idiom
Keeping a safe emotional or physical distance from someone or something.
Trusted by1M+English learners & teachers worldwide
Keeping a safe emotional or physical distance from someone or something.
Trusted by1M+English learners & teachers worldwide
To keep a safe distance from someone, in feeling or in space.
When you keep someone at arm's length, you deal with them but never get close.
It is often used when a person is guarding themselves from getting too involved.
"Keep at Bay"
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Actively preventing something from getting closer or causing harm
"Give the Cold Shoulder"
—
Deliberately ignoring or being unfriendly to someone as a sign of displeasure
"Keep Something or Someone at Arm's Length"
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Maintaining a careful distance from someone while still having some interaction
You seem a bit distant with the new vendor — is everything okay?
I'm just keeping them at arm's length until I see how they handle the first delivery.
You never seem to open up to people at parties — why is that?
I guess I tend to keep people at arm's length until I know I can trust them.
My ex keeps texting and I don't know how to handle it.
Just keep them at arm's length — polite, but no deep conversations.
