give a wide berth

Idioms  

1. Avoid, as in After Jane told on them, they gave her a wide berth. This expression alludes to giving a vessel enough room to swing at anchor so as to avoid a collision. [Mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

It’s also home to elk, which you should give a wide berth if you’re lucky enough to see one.

From Los Angeles Times

“We embrace a commitment to free expression and give a wide berth to free expression even of views that are objectionable, outrageous and offensive,” Ms. Gay said at the House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing on rising campus antisemitism.

From Washington Times

In medical devices, things are murkier—in encouraging innovation, the legal standards give a wide berth to people trying to develop technologies, with the understanding that sometimes even people trying their best will screw up.

From Slate

Andolfi says that if possible, give a wide berth to those family members who create or trigger conflict.

From Washington Post

You should probably give a wide berth to the Twitter mentions of critics sceptical about Avengers: Endgame.

From The Guardian

Related Words

• despise
• disdain
• eschew
• neglect
• pass up
• refuse
• reject
• scorn
• snub