hold (one) at arm's length
hold (one) at arm's length
To keep one at a certain distance away, either physical or figurative, in order to afford a level of safety or security or to prevent intimacy. John always holds his friends at arm's length, so that no one gets close enough to hurt his feelings. My daughter likes to watch me cook, but I make sure to hold her at arm's length so she doesn't get close to anything hot.
See also: hold, length
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- keep (one) at arm's length
- keep somebody at arm's length
- keep someone at arm's length
- keep someone or something at arm's length
- hold (one) at a comfortable distance
- at arm's length
- hold (one) at a distance
- let off on
- let off on (someone or something)
- be as good as dead