keep (someone or something) at arm's length

1. To maintain a protective level of detachment or dissociation from someone or something. John has been keeping us all at arm's length lately, so none of us knows how he is really doing. The senator was careful to keep the controversial topic at arm's length during his re-election campaign.

2. To prevent someone, something, or oneself from interacting, being involved, or becoming associated too closely with someone or something else. Typically followed by "from someone or something." The government has so far been keeping the country at arm's length from the hostilities in the region. My mother was very overprotective, and she always kept me at arm's length from anything or anyone she thought might be harmful.

词组	keep (someone or something) at arm's length
释义	keep (someone or something) at arm's length keep (someone or something) at arm's length 1. To maintain a protective level of detachment or dissociation from someone or something. John has been keeping us all at arm's length lately, so none of us knows how he is really doing. The senator was careful to keep the controversial topic at arm's length during his re-election campaign. 2. To prevent someone, something, or oneself from interacting, being involved, or becoming associated too closely with someone or something else. Typically followed by "from someone or something." The government has so far been keeping the country at arm's length from the hostilities in the region. My mother was very overprotective, and she always kept me at arm's length from anything or anyone she thought might be harmful. See also: keep, length Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. See also: keep at arm's length from keep at arm's length from (someone or something) hold at arm's length length be nothing to do with (someone or something) be/have nothing to do with somebody/something chew at
随便看	on the rilla on the rise on the road on the road again on the road to recovery on the road to recovery, stardom, etc. on the road to ruin, disaster, etc. on the road to (something) on the road to stardom on the rocks on the rocks, to be on the ropes on the ropes, to be on the run on the safe side on the same page on the same page, to be on the same wavelength on the sauce on the say-so of (someone) on the scene on the scene, be on the scent on the scent (of something) on the scrap heap