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Synonyms

give a wide berth

Idioms  
  1. Avoid, as in After Jane told on them, they gave her a wide berth. This expression alludes to giving a vessel enough room to swing at anchor so as to avoid a collision. [Mid-1800s]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

They can, of course, give a wide berth to controversial topics in their songs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

It’s also home to elk, which you should give a wide berth if you’re lucky enough to see one.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2025

In medical devices, things are murkier—in encouraging innovation, the legal standards give a wide berth to people trying to develop technologies, with the understanding that sometimes even people trying their best will screw up.

From Slate ● May 26, 2023

Then there was Universal's "Everest," which opted to give a wide berth to gangster rats and futuristic teens by opening in a special, Imax and premium format run.

From Reuters ● Sep. 20, 2015

Betty smiled, and shifted her course a little to give a wide berth to some boys who were fishing.

From The Outdoor Girls at Rainbow Lake Or, the stirring cruise of the motor boat Gem by Laura Lee Hope

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