keep at arm's length
/kiːp æt ɑːmz leŋθ/
Meaning
To avoid becoming too friendly, close, or involved with someone or something. In professional contexts, it is used to describe maintaining a healthy distance to stay objective, avoid conflicts of interest, or protect one's business interests.
Examples
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To avoid any conflicts of interest, we decided to keep the suppliers at arm's length.
To avoid any conflicts of interest, we decided to keep the suppliers at arm's length.
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She prefers to keep her coworkers at arm's length to maintain a clear boundary between work and personal life.
She prefers to keep her coworkers at arm's length to maintain a clear boundary between work and personal life.
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The company keeps its subsidiary at arm's length to protect the parent brand from legal liabilities.
The company keeps its subsidiary at arm's length to protect the parent brand from legal liabilities.
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It's wise to keep competitors at arm's length during the joint venture negotiations.
It's wise to keep competitors at arm's length during the joint venture negotiations.
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Though they work together daily, the two directors always keep each other at arm's length.
Though they work together daily, the two directors always keep each other at arm's length.
Common Mistakes
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✗ We must keep them at the arm's length.
✓ We must keep them at arm's length.
The idiom uses 'arm's length' as a set phrase without the definite article 'the'.
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✗ He keeps his clients at arms' length.
✓ He keeps his clients at arm's length.
'Arm's' is singular possessive (belonging to one arm), not the plural possessive 'arms''.
Related Expressions
Practice
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In this industry, it is safer to keep your main competitors ___.
💡 Maintain a professional distance.
Show answer
at arm's length
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To remain objective during the audit, the consultants had to ___ the management team ___.
💡 Avoid getting too close or involved with them.
Show answer
keep / at arm's length