Wouldn’t Touch It with a Ten-Foot Pole 🚫
Ever encountered something so undesirable that you wanted to keep it at a considerable distance? That’s exactly what this idiom captures: avoiding something as much as possible. This phrase paints a vivid picture of someone using a long pole to separate themselves from whatever they find so repellent.
Definition:
Wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole - To deliberately stay far away from something or someone because it’s unsavory, distasteful, or problematic.
Similar Expressions:
-
Not in a million years 🌌
- Refusing to do something at any cost, akin to saying, “Absolutely never.”
-
Steer clear of 🚗💨
- Actively avoiding something or someone to prevent any trouble or unwanted encounters.
-
Avoid like the plague 🏃♀️🦠
- A dramatic way to describe staying away from something entirely, as you would from a deadly disease.
-
Wouldn’t touch with a barge pole 🛶
- A variant of the expression popular in the 19th century, referring to the poles used to maneuver barges.
Historical Context:
- The idiom “wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole” has roots in the mid-eighteenth century but was predated by a similar phrase, “not to be handled (touched) with a pair of tongs,” mentioned by John Clarke in “Paroemiologia” (1639) and later reiterated by Charles Dickens and others.
- As barges became less common, “ten-foot pole” remained as the preferred expression.
Related Terms and Proverbs:
- “Better safe than sorry”
- It’s wiser to avoid risks than to deal with the fallout later.
- Synonym: Caution is better than regret; Prevention is better than cure.
- Antonym: Throw caution to the wind
Humorous Quote:
- “I wouldn’t go near that with a ten-foot Pol-ish sausage.” - Anon.
Literary References:
- Charles Dickens’ Works - For a literary touch on idiomatic use.
- William Shakespeare’s Plays - For younger forms of distancing idioms.
Inspirational Thought 💡:
Isn’t it magnificent how language gives us tools to humorously and clearly express even our strongest aversions?
Live through phrases with enriching experiences, and steer away from those you wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole – life’s too short!
Quizzes 📚🎉
Farewell Thought: May you walk a path filled with fascinating phrases and colorful expressions, steering clear of anything you wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole!
™️ 2023 Dodger D. Remark
