Synonym of keep at arm's length

steer clear sidestep avoid avoid like the plague give a wide berth give something a miss keep well away keep your distance shun circumvent stay away from steer clear of keep clear of bypass circumnavigate evade shy from dodge give a wide berth to shrink from keep one's distance from get around stay shy of shy away from balk at recoil from keep away from turn back on turn away from have nothing to do with have no part of fight shy of escape elude shake duck eschew lose shirk skirt finesse scape ditch bilk shuck balk baulk run away from body-swerve shuffle out of slip through the net of escape the clutches of get away from end-run baffle slip out shy flee give the slip lead on a merry chase leave behind escape from fly give the runaround break away from sneak away weasel out of shake off

fend repel repulse resist bulwark defend fence forfend guard screen keep ward head off hold off fend off hold back keep off protect against safeguard against secure against shield against stave off ward off defend oneself against fight off guard against keep at bay stand up for rebut check parry beat off drive back keep away protect shield safeguard secure cover block stall deflect rebuff discourage prevent avert foil deter frustrate avoid push back thrust back put to flight knock down turn away drive away brush off turn back drive off beat back force off see off send packing chase away stand off force back keep at a distance turn aside hold at bay shelter preserve save keep safe look after keep from harm fortify conserve watch over harbour harbor house watch care for afford protection to tend insulate inoculate mind stick up for give sanctuary ride shotgun take care of cover all bases hedge support garrison chaperon foster uphold sentinel insure assure immunise escort immunize mount guard on stand guard on give refuge stand guard take under one's wing save from harm assure the safety of go to bat for police strengthen patrol maintain ensure take someone under your wing man occupy make safe stand guard over oversee make immune make sound make invulnerable make impregnable overlook be responsible for guide attend to preside over persevere with have charge of minister to rule be in charge of cushion shade wrap conceal haven sit with see to keep an eye on stonewall shotgun roof chamber cover up provide protection for give shelter give cover counter shield yourself from en garde forestall shirk elude shun preclude rebuke bypass anticipate oppose barricade withstand hold provide sanctuary take in repel danger be the defender of

exclude bar ban shut out keep out refuse entrance to deny admittance to keep off lock out deny access to freeze out prevent from entering refuse admittance refuse to admit shut the door on debar ostracize ostracise banish exile except eliminate refuse evict cover mask conceal hide veil shroud seclude close obstruct screen beleaguer discontinue blockade close out rule out count out shut off block out fence off close one's doors to reject prohibit interdict forbid stop expel suspend blackball omit disallow veto proscribe block blacklist sideline cut out rusticate disbar deny entry embargo boycott leave out discount disclude put an embargo on occlude obviate prevent preclude disentitle disqualify black disfellowship deprive deny refuse admission to stand in the way of leave out in the cold declare ineligible give the cold shoulder to say no to

escape avoid evade dodge elude shun duck miss circumvent shirk bypass cheat scape shake sidestep skirt bilk eschew finesse trick escape from get around fend off shuffle out of weasel out of body-swerve get away from shake off give the slip leave behind give a wide berth keep out of the way of steer clear of get out of lose beat run away from duck-shove funk shortcut skirt round wriggle out of outrun cut skip decline go around skive off foil cop out of flee thwart outstrip outdistance find a way round ditch give a wide berth to give the slip to parry throw off duck out of slide out of throw off the scent frustrate skive stay away from baffle fight shy of shrink from renounce shy from shy outmanoeuvre refrain from get rid of slip away from outmaneuver back out of abstain forgo get round defeat abstain from give up keep clear of renege abandon outpace neglect clear tergiversate quit outwit prevent outflank avert balk baulk shuck fly dance around juke burke pull out of get ahead of pussyfoot around stop forget check dispense with abjure refrain desist be beyond turn your back on turn back on pay no attention to sacrifice run from forbear get shot of rid oneself of skip out on kick end-run keep from stay shy of break away from find a way out of give the runaround withhold from stay clear of slip through the net of leave off jack in swear off confound rid sneak away from slip defy pussyfoot fudge weasel brush off excuse desert rationalize backpedal welsh revoke withdraw sneak away slip out put the move on disregard ignore overlook discount lead on a merry chase escape the clutches of keep your distance cop out back down back out back off weasel out get out use pretext have alibi rationalise shuffle off take back road depart from deviate from go around the barn wink at blink at keep one's distance from be oblivious to pay no heed to lay low from pay no mind unmind unheed turn a blind eye to tune out take no notice of not attend let something slide scrimshank shirk from double play truant from creep skimp on leave something undone dog bludge fence fend deflect divert lose sight of not attend to bob off be lax about be remiss about keep off slough off pay little attention to lie down on job get away stay away steer clear preclude restrain from withstand resist overcome tergiverse run around pass overtake stymie ward off break the habit of help neutralise forbear from hold off overhaul slip through the net slip through your fingers gain on hinder desist from interfere with head off refuse stave off deny oneself negate make up for nullify obviate neutralize block impede counterbalance do without prohibit arrest counteract anticipate run faster than leave standing draw away from give something a miss get past dismiss shed forswear get further ahead of widen the gap between oneself and someone else put distance between oneself and someone else short-circuit relinquish repudiate spurn forsake reject disavow find a way around work around forego withhold deny disclaim disdain drop abnegate abdicate see the back of free oneself from gainsay disaffirm restrain cease curb belay bridle keep omit inhibit renege on not touch have nothing to do with let well enough alone have no truck with shy away from pack in break off resist the temptation to stop oneself hold back restrain yourself lay off decline to go easy give over free yourself of put to one side put away put behind you default swerve overpass fail pretermit fail to pay turn away from pass over recoil from be indifferent turn aside balk at be derelict let lapse be remiss fail to look after duck out be careless skulk jouk deke slight run away wriggle disown goldbrick malinger shut eyes to lose track of not remember fail to remember fake extricate oneself from let something go downhill let something go to seed duck out of the way of swerve away from get out of the way of opt out cast aside hide from repel rebuff repulse counter fake out en garde keep at bay rebuke shield yourself from forestall hold at bay rat backtrack backslide levant welch dishonor swindle stiff defraud dishonour skate zigzag slalom jink contemn defer discard go into arrears run out on break your word leave town put on the cuff fail to honour meet under arch fall behind see in the alley not pay underestimate elide depreciate overleap postpone procrastinate scant weave bolt dart fail to care for slur over laugh off set aside trifle with be irresponsible think little of gloss over be negligent pass up fail to provide for not trouble oneself not care throw to the winds be remiss in let go not care for make light of let pass procrastinate over brush aside leave alone live with look the other way turn a deaf ear to shrug off dive jump spring lunge shift leap veer

distance detach isolate separate dissociate insulate remove segregate sequester withdraw disconnect disengage divorce free seclude sever alienate avoid decouple disaffiliate disassociate part quarantine sunder set apart break away break from break with cut off move away withdraw from place far off walk away put at a distance divide disunite break up split disjoin uncouple unlink unyoke dissever resolve disjoint ramify keep apart shy quit dissolve unmarry estrange break apart put away disperse part company distance oneself disentangle extricate draw back split up undo break disband section partition break off rive cut up rend unhitch unfix subdivide cut unfasten bisect segment take apart come apart loose dissect untether cleave break down unhook slice up abstract diverge luxate disrupt branch loosen disassemble dismember splinter go separate ways dismount bifurcate disarticulate dichotomize halve quarter chop divide in two divide up split in two carve up chop up abjugate unstrap untie end things dislocate distinguish scatter reduce decompose factionalize dismantle disintegrate stand between rope off group sort embroil wedge apart break open dislodge move relocate clear tear apart unclasp set at odds move apart unbuckle unbolt rupture unravel set at variance draw apart uncombine become disconnected pull apart come away become detached fork put asunder spread unbutton unpin divaricate unsnap unclick compartment branch off hack slice branch out shear fork off crack carve fractionate turn off tear off rip open slash tear abscind share out portion out crack open pierce tear asunder smite split open lay open

neglect overlook disregard ignore discount abandon bypass overpass shirk skip dismiss forsake avoid contemn defer desert discard omit pretermit depreciate elide evade miss overleap postpone procrastinate reject scant underestimate leave something undone pass over be lax about gloss over let pass not attend to pay no attention to pay no heed to pay no mind set aside skimp on brush aside brush off fail to look after leave alone let go let something slide lose sight of not care for procrastinate over shrug off take no notice of think little of be remiss about not care pass up pay little attention to slur over tune out turn a deaf ear to turn your back on be careless be derelict be indifferent fail to care for fail to provide for live with not trouble oneself be irresponsible be negligent be remiss laugh off be remiss in make light of throw to the winds trifle with keep your distance look the other way have nothing to do with turn back on forget slight turn a blind eye to whitewash forfeit fail to take advantage of fail wink at leave out forego blink at paper over blow excuse pass by pass forgo unheed unmind dispense with lose out on let slip drop the ball close your eyes to take no account of gloze over dodge shut eyes to squander sidestep shun escape duck condone give up leave elude botch shake spurn forgive lose pardon withgo waive decline remit get around run away from get out of funk duck-shove weasel out of finesse scape wriggle out of eschew cut connive minimize slough off fail to take fail to grasp cop out of be oblivious to duck out of shuffle out of minimise push aside skip over fail to notice let go of pooh-pooh give something a miss leave be pass on play down trip up fail to spot turn a blind eye write off not listen waste blow off not take into consideration skirt blank drop dance around shy from avoid considering not dwell on disbelieve let something go downhill fail to remember lose track of not remember pussyfoot around tergiversate skirt round cold-shoulder throw away concede cede fritter away surrender expend yield leave out of account let off easy send to Coventry brush away turn a deaf ear let something ride undersell dispel doubt keep one's distance from fend off go around shake off give the slip to lay low from let something go to seed lay aside take with a pinch of salt give no credence to blow it fail to exploit shirk from fast forward steer clear of skim over cut out do without misheed exclude mislook keep off never mind refuse not choose not take look through repudiate let it go take no notice turn blind eye pay no mind to turn deaf ear negative not take into account bury one's head in sand disapprove reprobate pay no attention fail to see let fall between the cracks fail to observe look past leave out of consideration leave unnoticed slip up on nix deselect throw out balk at deny oneself miss out on turn down let go by throw over belittle flout trivialize trivialise stop thinking about cock a snook at scoff at put aside refuse to acknowledge wave aside think no more of sweep aside forget about have no time for blot out blank over put behind you erase from your mind put out of your mind shuffle off body-swerve not attend shrink from scrimshank mislay misplace play truant from quit creep parry dog cheat bludge slide out of fence miscarry muff blunder flub avert bob off skive off fail to seize fall short of fail at lie down on job snub rebuff cast aside deliberately ignore scorn disdain disown shut out make allowances for let someone off with connive at downplay despise bury excommunicate put away treat lightly unfollow have done with let bygones be bygones give someone the brush-off cast out break with cut off swear off take lightly have no use for sneeze at grandfather soft-pedal wink dissimulate de-emphasize treat as unimportant palliate disavow make a joke of joke about varnish over sweep under the carpet sweep under the rug indulge deal rapidly with override deodorise deodorize trample on renounce ride roughshod over pour cold water on treat with contempt throw cold water on plead ignorance refuse to recognize refuse to abide by close one's mind to banish deny shelve scout relegate deprecate denigrate diminish blank out disparage discredit acquit cease to remember erase from memory consign to oblivion put in the past draw a veil over dismiss from mind get over cease to think of not worry about banish from one's thoughts not give another thought to reprieve absolve exonerate disclaim kiss off laugh away accept clear knock back tell someone to get lost exculpate free justify release liberate amnesty not heed look right through someone give the cold shoulder to withhold from desist from say no to abstain from refrain from give the thumbs down to baulk at not accept not take advantage of deal leniently with have mercy on be merciful to make allowance for let it go by forgive and forget blackball ostracize blacklist jilt repulse repel abjure abnegate disfellowship ostracise unfriend leave off freeze out give someone the big E give someone the go-by cut dead put down give someone the air kick in the teeth hand someone the frozen mitt have nothing more to do with give a wide berth to bin off give someone the push leave out in the cold give the cold shoulder give the elbow spare sink take stomach put up with grin and bear it stand for roll with punches bear with swim with the tide turn blind eye to go along with wipe slate clean play past

rebuff spurn snub disdain ignore slight dismiss repulse snout repel cold-shoulder freeze out give someone the brush-off stiff-arm cut dead give someone the go-by brush off give the cold shoulder give the brush put down look right through someone tell someone where to get off keep at a distance keep at bay shun ostracize scorn blank disregard stiff coldshoulder neglect scout chill ostracise knock back ice out high-hat not give time of day cut out take no notice of act cool snub one's nose at give the brushoff look through reject exclude send to Coventry cut repudiate blacklist blackball avoid shut out steer clear of boycott have nothing to do with turn back on expel leave out in the cold debar refuse cut someone cold disfellowship cancel turn down look past turn your back on give the cold shoulder to bar ban give a wide berth to embargo excommunicate jilt banish decline keep away from disown give the bum's rush hand someone the frozen mitt oust evade bilk desert other disparage disallow keep clear of discard forsake discount fend off keep one's distance from despise stay away from shrink from veto black throw out cut off proscribe prohibit look straight through outlaw leave out pooh-pooh shy away from leave alone cast aside cast out fight shy of balk at give someone the big E place an embargo on give someone the air recoil from pass up dodge elude shirk drive away hide from be exclusive of not be inclusive of not include straight-arm contemn pretend not to see abandon marginalize exile make unwelcome eliminate preclude remove turn up one's nose refuse to entertain deprecate denigrate diminish sneer at scoff at isolate sideline sneeze at treat with contempt turn your nose up at look down on hold in contempt leave in the cold discredit vote against rule out evict cashier drum out ditch marginalise displace disclaim refuse to employ thumbs down consider undesirable put an embargo on hit list put on hit list interdict stay clear of get rid of force out stay shy of have no part in stand aloof from give the runaround turn away from tell someone to get lost cast off shut the door on strike not touch give a wide berth have no part of shy from withhold patronage brush aside sweep aside keep out body-swerve shake off palm off drop abjure abnegate abstain from leave behind put behind you unfollow unfriend pass by impose sanctions wash your hands of hold aloof from refrain from refuse to take part in leave off kick in the teeth break with have nothing more to do with bin off give someone the push swear off give the elbow flout defy eschew disrespect disobey disesteem fail vilipend disfavor disfavour have contempt for refuse to acknowledge have no use for

keep at bay keep a tight rein on keep at it keep attempting keep a vigil keep a vigil on keep at a minimum keep a tally of keep a tally keep at a distance keep a tab on keep at