Definition

Verb phrase: - To maintain a physical or emotional separation from someone or something; to avoid getting too close or involved.

Usage

This phrase is used to describe the act of deliberately staying away from a person, place, or situation, often due to perceived danger, a desire for privacy, or to avoid involvement. * It is important to keep your distance from wild animals. * After their argument, she decided to keep her distance from him for a while.

Examples

• Physical Distance:
  • The sign warned visitors to keep their distance from the electrical equipment.
  • He's contagious, so please keep your distance.
• Emotional/Social Distance:
  • She keeps her distance from office gossip.
  • I advise you to keep your distance from that controversial project.

Advanced Usage

• "to keep a safe distance": Emphasizes the reason for the separation is safety.
  • Always keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you.
• "to keep one's distance from": Often followed by the object being avoided.
  • It's wise to keep your distance from trouble.

Variants and Related Words

• Keep away (from) (phrasal verb): To avoid going near.
  • Keep away from the edge of the cliff.
• Steer clear (of) (idiom): To deliberately avoid someone or something.
  • You should steer clear of that part of town at night.

Synonyms

• Avoid: To stay away from.
• Shun: To persistently avoid, ignore, or reject.

Related Idioms

• Give (someone/something) a wide berth: To keep well away from.
  • The ships gave the rocky coast a wide berth.

Verb

1. stay clear of, avoid
   • Keep your hands off my wife!
   • Keep your distance from this man--he is dangerous