at arm's length

idiomPart ofarm

at arm's length — idiom

1. keeping someone or something a small but clear distance away, especially to avoi

1.idiom
Definition

keeping someone or something a small but clear distance away, especially to avoid getting too close emotionally or in business.

Example

The company kept the noisy investor at arm's length during the merger talks.

After the argument, Mei held her cousin at arm's length for almost a year.