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To give a wide berth

Meaning: To keep well away from someone or something.

Language: English

Literally: To give a wide berth

Category: Nature

Origin: Nautical; a 'berth' is a ship's safe swinging room, so a wide one keeps vessels clear of danger.

More idioms — Nature

  • Echar leña al fuego — To make a bad situation worse.
  • Prendere lucciole per lanterne — To be completely and badly mistaken.
  • Ficar a ver navios — To be left disappointed and empty-handed.
  • Att kasta yxan i sjön — To give up completely.
  • At save den gren over man selv sidder på — To undermine your own position.
  • At gå over åen efter vand — To do something in a needlessly roundabout way.

More English idioms

  • To pull out all the stops — To make every possible effort.
  • To have egg on your face — To look foolish or embarrassed.
  • To jump on the bandwagon — To join something only once it becomes popular.
  • To bury your head in the sand — To refuse to face an obvious danger.
  • To bite off more than you can chew — To take on more than you can handle.
  • Caught between a rock and a hard place — Stuck between two equally bad options.

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