arm's length
noun, adjective
Forms arm's lengths
- noun A distance approximately equal to the length of a human's arm. “I need about ten arm's lengths of yarn.”
- noun (figuratively) A position not suggesting or inviting intimacy. “She remained at arm's length though we worked together for many years.”
- noun (figuratively) A condition of independence and parity for parties to a transaction. “The police work at arm's length from the army.”
- adjective (literally) Barely within reach.
- adjective (idiomatic) Distant, detached.
- adjective (idiomatic) Independent, but related.
Sources: Wiktionary — from the Wiktionary entry “arm's length”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details