at arm's length

Idioms  

1. At a distance, avoiding intimacy or familiarity, as in Bill hated seeing his colleagues outside the office, preferring to keep all of them at arm's length, or She was friendly only when he was safely at arm's length. Now often used with the verb keep, this term for distancing oneself from a person, organization, or issue originated as at arm's end but developed its current form by the mid-1600s.

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Example Sentences

The Moon will appear to the astronauts "about the size of a basketball held at arm's length," Noah Petro, head of NASA's planetary geology lab, told AFP.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

The defense did most of the heavy lifting from there, holding Oregon at arm’s length until the fourth quarter, when the Ducks flew out in front, dealing the Trojans another loss.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 7, 2026

That day in the field outside Beijing, Silva managed to keep the poacher at arm's length until the police arrived.

From BBC • Dec. 28, 2025

Rolex could show a way forward for the industry by keeping resellers at arm’s length, all while protecting its brand.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

Deborah threw her black canvas tote bag onto the floor, tore the wrapping paper from the photo, then held the frame at arm’s length in front of her.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot