keep\ one\ at\ a\ distance

keep\ one\ at\ a\ distance
• 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 to be friendly, but he keeps her at arm's length.

Compare: keep one's distance, hold off(1a)

Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • keep one at a distance — or[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 to be friendly,… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • keep one at a distance — or[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 to be friendly,… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • keep\ one\ 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 one's distance — {v. phr.} To be cool toward someone; avoid being friendly. * /Mary did not like her co worker, Betty, and kept her distance from her./ Compare: KEEP ONE AT A DISTANCE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • keep one's distance — {v. phr.} To be cool toward someone; avoid being friendly. * /Mary did not like her co worker, Betty, and kept her distance from her./ Compare: KEEP ONE AT A DISTANCE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • keep\ one's\ distance — v. phr. To be cool toward someone; avoid being friendly. Mary did not like her co worker, Betty, and kept her distance from her. Compare: keep one at a distance …   Словарь американских идиом

  • keep one's distance — index shun Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • keep one's distance — verb stay clear of, avoid Keep your hands off my wife! Keep your distance from this man he is dangerous • Syn: ↑stand back, ↑keep one s eyes off, ↑keep one s hands off, ↑stay away • Hypernyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • keep one's eyes off — verb stay clear of, avoid Keep your hands off my wife! Keep your distance from this man he is dangerous • Syn: ↑stand back, ↑keep one s distance, ↑keep one s hands off, ↑stay away • Hypernyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • keep one's hands off — verb stay clear of, avoid Keep your hands off my wife! Keep your distance from this man he is dangerous • Syn: ↑stand back, ↑keep one s eyes off, ↑keep one s distance, ↑stay away • Hypernyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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