keep at arm's length

keep at arm's length
   If you keep someone at arm's length, you do not allow yourself to become too friendly with them.
   

It's not easy to become friends with Sophie; she tends to keep everyone at arm's length.


English Idioms & idiomatic expressions. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • keep at arm's length — keep (something) at arm s length See at: keep at arm s length …   New idioms dictionary

  • keep at arm's length — ► keep at arm s length avoid intimacy or close contact with. Main Entry: ↑arm …   English terms dictionary

  • keep at arm's length — keep (someone/something) at arm s length to avoid becoming connected with someone or something. We proposed a tax break for companies that treat their workers well, but lawmakers are keeping the idea at arm s length for now. She doesn t talk much …   New idioms dictionary

  • keep\ at\ arm's\ length — • keep (one) at a distance • keep (one) at arm s length v. phr. To avoid (someone s) company; not become too friendly toward. Mr. Smith is kind to the workers in his store but after work he keeps them at a distance. Betty likes Bill and is trying …   Словарь американских идиом

  • keep at arm's length — держать на расстоянии She keрt him at arm s length, thinking that he might try to kiss her …   Idioms and examples

  • keep at arm's length — keep at a distance, prevent from getting close …   English contemporary dictionary

  • To keep at arm's length — Arm Arm, n. [AS. arm, earm; akin to OHG. aram, G., D., Dan., & Sw. arm, Icel. armr, Goth. arms, L. armus arm, shoulder, and prob. to Gr. ? joining, joint, shoulder, fr. the root ? to join, to fit together; cf. Slav. rame. ?. See {Art},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To keep at arm's length — Keep Keep (k[=e]p), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Kept} (k[e^]pt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Keeping}.] [OE. k[=e]pen, AS. c[=e]pan to keep, regard, desire, await, take, betake; cf. AS. copenere lover, OE. copnien to desire.] 1. To care; to desire. [Obs.] [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • keep at arm's length — avoid intimacy or close contact with. → arm …   English new terms dictionary

  • Arm's length — Arm Arm, n. [AS. arm, earm; akin to OHG. aram, G., D., Dan., & Sw. arm, Icel. armr, Goth. arms, L. armus arm, shoulder, and prob. to Gr. ? joining, joint, shoulder, fr. the root ? to join, to fit together; cf. Slav. rame. ?. See {Art},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”