maintain a distance

Meaning

This expression means to deliberately keep yourself emotionally or physically separate from someone. It is often used when you want to avoid conflict, protect your own feelings, or stay professional. The tone is neutral and can apply to personal relationships or work dynamics.

Examples

• After their big argument, she decided to maintain a distance for a few weeks.

  After their big argument, she decided to maintain a distance for a few weeks.

• It's hard to maintain a distance when you work in the same small office.

  It's hard to maintain a distance when you work in the same small office.

• He chose to maintain a professional distance from his clients to avoid any bias.

  He chose to maintain a professional distance from his clients to avoid any bias.

• I try to maintain a healthy distance from family drama.

  I try to maintain a healthy distance from family drama.

• Even though they broke up, they struggled to maintain a distance because of mutual friends.

  Even though they broke up, they struggled to maintain a distance because of mutual friends.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to maintain distance with my ex.

  ✓ I need to maintain a distance from my ex.

  Use the preposition 'from' instead of 'with' to indicate separation or boundaries.

• ✗ She keeps maintaining distance.

  ✓ She is maintaining her distance.

  It is more natural to use 'maintain a distance' or 'maintain one's distance' rather than omitting the article or pronoun.

Related Expressions

Practice

• After the breakup, Sarah felt it was best to ________ from Mark.

  💡 Keep emotional space using 'distance'

  Show answer

  maintain a distance

• To avoid workplace gossip, I try to ________ from my coworkers' personal lives.

  💡 Keep a professional boundary

  Show answer

  maintain a distance