keep your distance

Meaning

This phrase means to maintain a physical or emotional space between yourself and another person, group, or object. It is used when you want to avoid conflict, danger, or unwanted intimacy. The tone is cautious, protective, or advisory.

Examples

• After our argument, I decided to keep my distance for a few days.

  After our argument, I decided to keep my distance for a few days.

• You should keep your distance from him when he's in a bad mood.

  You should keep your distance from him when he's in a bad mood.

• She advised me to keep my distance from toxic coworkers.

  She advised me to keep my distance from toxic coworkers.

• The doctor told him to keep his distance from people while he was contagious.

  The doctor told him to keep his distance from people while he was contagious.

• I like her, but I prefer to keep my distance until I know her better.

  I like her, but I prefer to keep my distance until I know her better.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I decided to keep my distant from her.

  ✓ I decided to keep my distance from her.

  Use the noun 'distance,' not the adjective 'distant,' in this expression.

• ✗ You must keep distance from the dog.

  ✓ You must keep your distance from the dog.

  The phrase requires a possessive adjective (your, my, his, her, their) before the word 'distance'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If she is angry, it's best to ___ for a while.

  💡 Maintain space to avoid trouble.

  Show answer

  keep your distance

• I try to ___ from office gossip.

  💡 Use the first-person possessive adjective.

  Show answer

  keep my distance