at a distance

at a distance

1. From a far way away. At a distance, it doesn't look like much. But when you get closer, it's quite spectacular.
2. With a level of separation or detachment. It was so nice to meet the artist in person after admiring his work at a distance for so long.
See also: distance
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

at/from a ˈdistance

from a place or time that is not near; from far away: She had loved him at a distance for years.
See also: distance
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • at/from a distance
  • from a distance
  • into the distance
  • put some distance between
  • put some distance between (someone or something)
  • put some distance between someone and someone/something
  • in striking distance (of someone or something)
  • within striking distance (of someone or something)
  • in spitting distance (of someone or something)
  • within spitting distance
References in classic literature
To the untrained eye the collection of delicate originals made by the human finger on the glass plates looked about alike; but when enlarged ten times they resembled the markings of a block of wood that has been sawed across the grain, and the dullest eye could detect at a glance, and at a distance of many feet, that no two of the patterns were alike.
Puddnhead Wilson
Even in the moonlight and at a distance Tarzan saw that the lion was huge; that it was indeed another of the black-maned monsters similar to Numa of the pit.
Tarzan the Untamed
By morning's cheerful glow, but oftener still by evening's gentle light, the child, with a respect for the short and happy intercourse of these two sisters which forbade her to approach and say a thankful word, although she yearned to do so, followed them at a distance in their walks and rambles, stopping when they stopped, sitting on the grass when they sat down, rising when they went on, and feeling it a companionship and delight to be so near them.
The Old Curiosity Shop
If you know that Dog A begins showing signs of guarding at a distance of 15 feet, start at 25 feet.
Mine, all mine! Improve the behavior--and emotional response--of dogs who guard resources from other dogs
At a distance of just over 11 million light-years, Centaurus A contains the closest active galactic nucleus to Earth.
Hubble reveals firestorm of star birth in active galaxy Centaurus A
A wrote, "Devoid of passion, either for a thing, a person, or an idea, incapable or unwilling to reveal himself under any circumstances, he [A's father] had managed to keep himself at a distance from life, to avoid immersion in the quick of things.
The Auster instance: a ficto-biography