I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole I'm currently watching the TV series Suits and there are many reoccurring phrases and idioms. (Some of them can be found here: https://www.reddit.com/r/suits/c

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Miriam

I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole

I'm currently watching the TV series Suits and there are many reoccurring phrases and idioms. (Some of them can be found here: <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/suits/comments/8g3znk/has_anybody_else_noticed_that_the_writers_have/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.reddit.com/r/suits/comments/8g3znk/has_anybody_else_noticed_that_the_writers_have/</a>;)

One of them that everybody seems to say in this series is: I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole.

This seems to be American English, while in the UK this seems to be more common: I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.

Here's a discussion on where this expression come froms: <a href="https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/449300/what-s-the-origin-and-history-of-the-phrase-ten-foot-pole" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/449300/what-s-the-origin-and-history-of-the-phrase-ten-foot-pole</a>;. There it is mentioned that in the 17th century it was common to say: not touch one with a pair of tongs. That is actually how this expression is used in Germany today. The equivalent German expression for "I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole" is "Das würde ich nicht mit der Kneifzange anfassen." (literally: I wouldn't touch it with a pair of pincers).

Do you use the expression "I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot/barge pole"? Is it common where you live? How would you translate it in your target language/mother tongue? What are synonymous phrases?

And what do you think of writers using a limited repertoire of expressions and idioms? Is this lazy/sloppy writing or a realistic representation of language usage of a subculture of speakers?

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التعليقات · 14

"I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole" is a common US idiom. (I've never heard "barge pole.") It's often used about an investment, or a business deal, or something else that is considered to be dangerous, risky, questionable, possibly illegal, or of very low quality.

"I wouldn't touch bitcoin with a ten-foot pole."

"I like a good Philadelphia cheesesteak, but Subway has no clue how to make them. I wouldn't touch a Subway cheesesteak with a ten-foot pole."

Another common idiom, often phrased as a command when giving advice, is "Avoid it like the plague."

If you have been disappointed or cheated by something, you can say "I've been burned by..." So, you might say "Avoid bitcoin like the plague. There are just too many stories of people getting burned by fraudulent exchanges. I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole."

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I am an American English speaker, and I've used the expression I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. I would not say it's a part of my every day speech, but as far as idioms are concerned, I'd say it's fairly common. Here are some similar phrases / ideas:

I want nothing to do with that. OR I don't want anything to do with that.

I'd stay away from that if I were you.

Don't get involved in that.

In regards to your writing, I'd refrain from using idioms. They are best used when speaking.

I hope that helps!

(Also, Suits is a great series! Enjoy it!)

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You're right. "I wouldn't touch it with a barge-pole" is a common idiom in the UK. I can't recall ever having used it, but I hear it quite often. A related boating idiom which I do use is "give something/someone a wide berth".

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It’s a very common idiom, at least in the States, and I use it and hear it frequently, but the one I don’t hear as much, but like much better ( because I read it in some magazine in the 1970s), is „I wouldn’t touch it WITH SOMEONE ELSE‘s ten foot pole.“ That adds a lot more emphasis to it and keeps the expression from sounding so cliche.

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