avoid (someone/something) like the plague

to keep far away from someone or something.

When he was in high school, he avoided girls like the plague.

Usage notes: usually said about someone or something you fear or do not like

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of the plague (= a disease that spreads quickly and kills great numbers of people)

• come to senses
• come to terms with
• come to terms with something
• come to the [bargaining/peace etc.] table
• come to the bargaining table
• come to the peace table
• come to the ... table
• come to the table
• come to your senses
• come true
• come turn up trumps
• come under fire
• come under the hammer
• come unglued
• come unstuck
• come up
• come up against a brick wall
• come up in the world
• come upon
• come upon someone
• come upon something
• come up smelling like a rose
• come up smelling of roses
• come up to scratch
• come up up trumps