Dictionary

not touch with a ten-foot pole en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Sense 1 attested in 1846; sense 2 in 1844.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To avoid something at all costs; to refuse to associate with something; signifies a strong aversion.
   • Serious actors of the world wouldn't touch the part with a ten-foot pole. 1999. David Morefield, The Guardian: I spy, the new 007
   • 1873. Ambrose Bierce (under the pseudonym Dod Grile), The Fiend's Delight In conclusion, his respect for letter-writing ladies is so great that he would not touch one of them with a ten-foot pole.
   • ... the stock's gone up from nothin' out o' sight. You couldn't tech that stock with a ten-foot pole! 1912, Ambrose Bierce, “A Providential Intimation”, in The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, volume 8:
2. (idiomatic) To be unable (perhaps figuratively) to approach something or someone.
   • On the contrary, my dear Mr. Gordon, it is because I do know him, or know of him, that I am turning him over to you. You are the one person in the world to obtain that coal lease. I confess I couldn't touch the Major with a ten-foot pole, any more than you could go North and get the cash. But you are his neighbor, and he likes you. What you recommend, he'll do. Francis Lynde, The Quickening

Forms

Relateds

not be caught dead · can't stand the sight of · over my dead body

Translations (11)

de nicht einmal mit der Kneifzange anfassen (to avoid at all costs) · cmn 唯恐避之不及 (to avoid at all costs) · hu bottal sem piszkálná meg (to avoid at all costs) · fr éviter à tout prix (to avoid at all costs) · da ikke røre med en ildtang (to avoid at all costs) · ru обходи́ть за версту́ (to avoid at all costs) · it essere come il diavolo e l'acqua santa (to avoid at all costs) · pl unikać za wszelką cenę (to avoid at all costs) · es no tocar ni con un palo (to avoid at all costs) · sv inte ta i med tång (to avoid at all costs) · fi olla koskematta pitkällä tikullakaan (to avoid at all costs)