keep at arm's length meaning?

Question

What is the meaning of "to keep at arm's length" idiom?

Answer 1

 

Idiom Conjugations:

 

Answer 2

Gerund Form of the Idiom:

Keeping an arm's length from a controversial issue can be a good idea.
 

Answer 3

Idiom Usage:

to keep an arm's length
to hold at arm's length
to be at arm's length
 

Answer 4

Idiom Scenario 2:

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Kathy is a psychologist.  The company she works for, called Inspire, is funded by a fundamental Christian organization.  Kathy wants her patients to be comfortable in their therapeutic setting.  She does not wish to alienate or make any of her patients uncomfortable with the knowledge of the association with a Christian group.  Therefore,

"Inspire keeps its association with the fundamental Christian organization at arm's length."

This means that there is no advertising linking the two groups.  No one talks about the association and patients would never know of the association.

Answer 5

Idiom Scenario 1:

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Martha, who works in an office, is very careful when it comes to sharing personal details at work.  Her coworkers are always trying to engage Martha in personal conversations.  They invite Martha to parties and other social events.  Martha always refuses the invitations.  Martha prefers to keep her professional work life very separate from her personal life.  Therefore,

"Martha always keeps her coworkers at arm's length."

We can see that Martha literally (and figuratively) keeps her coworkers at a distance from herself.   In this case, she keeps her coworkers at a distance equal to the length of her extended arm.

Answer 6

Idiom Definition:

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"to keep at arm's length"

• to avoid intimacy or familiarity with something
• to avoid intimacy or familiarity with someone
• to distance yourself from a person
• to distance yourself from an organization
• to distance yourself from an issue
• to avoid becoming connected with something
• to avoid becoming connected with someone

 
Synonyms:
avert, avoid, deflect, parry, rebuff, rebuke, rebut, refuse, reject, repel, repulse, resist, snub, spurn, turn, stave, ward
 
 
The man is literally keeping the woman at arm's length. - - - - ->