keep distance

keep (one's) distance

1. To maintain physical distance between oneself and someone or something. Keep your distance, everyone. There is a downed wire here. He better keep his distance from that bear.
2. To limit engagement or association (or the appearance thereof) between oneself and someone or something. Politicians have been quick to keep their distance from the senator ever since news of her scandal broke.
See also: distance, keep
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

keep one's distance (from someone or something)

Fig. to maintain a respectful or cautious distance from someone or something. Keep your distance from John. He's in a bad mood. Keep your distance from the fire.
See also: distance, keep
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • keep one's distance
  • keep your distance
  • keep (one's) distance
  • keep (one's) distance from (someone or something)
  • put some distance between
  • put some distance between (someone or something)
  • put some distance between someone and someone/something
  • hold at
  • pace (something) out
  • pace out
References in periodicals archive
A sports hernia will keep distance runner Alan Culpepper out of the Trials.
Schools should also keep distance among students, the ministry said.
Now, that may sound Like an intimidating List of requirements, but with the right IT team in place and a little research, it's possible to build video presentation systems that keep distance education students coming back for more.
They began to spread out and keep distance from one another.
This preventative approach seeks to keep distance between humans and mice, a carrier commonly in contact with people.
'The players have been sent the photographs of several bookies and have been told to keep distance with them and they have also been reminded to inform the ICC immediately in the event of any approach is made by any of these bookies', the source further added.
Sinha also urged the villagers to keep distance from the Maoists and assured them that the security forces will try their best to help the locals get better roads among other requirements.
If you keep distance while the others are close, let's not do that.
In a memorandum order dated June 11, the MMDA, led then by Francis Tolentino, said the drivers of cement mixer trucks should put the warning sign 'Loaded with Concrete - Keep Distance,' replacing the word 'cement' in its previous memorandum order signed in April this year.
Also, he has made it clear he will keep distance from aACAytainted' persons and will not like to share dais with them.
For security reasons, a forest guard accompanied him, but he used to keep distance from the television host in the jungle." Stroud failed to obtain permission to shoot in the Corbett National Park and later opted for the area falling under the Powalgarh range.
Basic messages of the activity was to encourage drivers to give way to others, smile to them, abide by traffic and safety rules, keep distance from the front car, for sake of "avoiding anger, accidents, seeking cooperation, gentleness and tolerance." Traffic accidents, law breaches and roads' jam are some of the major problems suffered by the people of Kuwait, on daily basis, "and such processions are designed to help in tackling them," Sheikha Intisar added.
The two since then are known to keep distance from each other.
Such a move would keep distance between himself and Price until a European or world title is on the line when their rivalry has intensified and the clamour for the fight has increased.
Keep distance from other vehicles and maintain the speed limit," he advised.