keep\ one\ at\ arm's\ length

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 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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  • 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\ 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 …   Словарь американских идиом

  • 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

  • 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

  • Arm's length principle — The arm s length principle (ALP) is the condition or the fact that the parties to a transaction are independent and on an equal footing. Such a transaction is known as an arm s length transaction . It is used specifically in contract law to… …   Wikipedia

  • 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

  • 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 work 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

  • keep\ 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 …   Словарь американских идиом

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