[Idiom] KEEP AT ARM'S LENGTH. - Maintaining Distance in Relationships for Personal Space
Keep at arm's length.
Keep someone at a distance.
'Keep at arm's length' means to maintain a certain distance from someone or something, either physically or emotionally. It suggests a deliberate effort to limit closeness to avoid becoming too involved or affected by others' actions. This idiom is useful in personal and professional contexts where boundaries are necessary for maintaining a comfortable space or when minimal involvement is deemed prudent.
Example Sentences
She kept him at arm's length due to trust issues.
Due to trust issues, she maintained a distance from him.
He preferred to keep new acquaintances at arm's length until he knew them better.
He liked to keep new acquaintances at a distance until he got to know them better.
Because of past betrayals, she always kept her colleagues at arm's length.
Past betrayals led her to always maintain a professional distance from her colleagues.