Richard-Business Eng
职业教师Social distancing and the idiom “Wouldn't touch him/her/it with a ten-foot pole”
With all the emphasis on the two metre/meter or six foot social/physical distancing guideline, I was reminded of an old, common idiom.
The Idiom:
“I or you wouldn't or shouldn't touch him/her/it with a ten-foot pole”
The Meaning:
- To avoid something or someone at all costs; to refuse to associate with something;
- To keep one’s distance from something harmful; to avoid some people
- To not want to become in any way involved in or with someone or something.
Usage:
This expression is nearly always used in the negative.
The Origin:
This expression may have been derived by the 10-foot poles that river boatmen used to pole their boats with, along in shallow water, or from the barge poles that bargemen used to fend off river and canal banks, wharfs and other boats.
The expression may also have been derived by the 10-foot poles that electricians and other utility workers use to de-energize transformers and other high voltage utility equipment before performing maintenance.
Examples:
• Ronald wouldn't touch raw oysters with a ten-foot pole.
• I don’t like drugs, so I wouldn't touch that stuff with a ten-foot pole!
• That person is a horrible person, so I wouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole!
• No, I won't hire Fred. I wouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole.
• I wouldn't touch that job with a ten-foot pole.
2020年4月5日 15:21
评论 · 8
4
Wow, only five or six weeks and the expression has taken on a whole new significance.
2020年4月5日
3
In the UK we have a very similar idiom "I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole"
2020年4月5日
3
It needs a little adjustment now to be:
"I would not go near him/her/them with a ten pole pole"
"I would not be seen dead within a ten foot poles length of them"
"I would not even feed him/her/them with a ten foot pole"
"I would not even wave at them with a ten foot (barge) pole"
It seems cruel but black humour is how we deal with these crises.
The most ridiculous news I have heard is a mother who called her new born babies "corona" and "covid"
whether it is true or not is unconfirmed. But what is likely to be true is that the world will see many new births next January to April.
2020年4月5日
2
NADA...
You are definitely one of the most appreciative, respectful italki members.
And you are right to keep your distance from gossiping people.
Thank you for your smart comments.
2020年4月5日
2
I wouldn’t touch gossip girls with a ten-foot-pole.
Thanks @Richard for the informative post as usual.
2020年4月5日
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