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At arm's length   /æt ɑrmz lɛŋkθ/   Listen
noun
Length  n.  
1.
The longest, or longer, dimension of any object, in distinction from breadth or width; extent of anything from end to end; the longest line which can be drawn through a body, parallel to its sides; as, the length of a church, or of a ship; the length of a rope or line.
2.
A portion of space or of time considered as measured by its length; often in the plural. "Large lengths of seas and shores." "The future but a length behind the past."
3.
The quality or state of being long, in space or time; extent; duration; as, some sea birds are remarkable for the length of their wings; he was tired by the length of the sermon, and the length of his walk.
4.
A single piece or subdivision of a series, or of a number of long pieces which may be connected together; as, a length of pipe; a length of fence.
5.
Detail or amplification; unfolding; continuance as, to pursue a subject to a great length. "May Heaven, great monarch, still augment your bliss With length of days, and every day like this."
6.
Distance. (Obs.) "He had marched to the length of Exeter."
At length.
(a)
At or in the full extent; without abbreviation; as, let the name be inserted at length.
(b)
At the end or conclusion; after a long period. See Syn. of At last, under Last.
At arm's length. See under Arm.






Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48








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"At arm's length" Quotes from Famous Books



... enough to make her keep poor Vale Leston suitors at arm's length," mumbled Gerald; but the sisters did not hear ...
— The Long Vacation • Charlotte M. Yonge

... for he knew that he was going back to meet his enemy, and he was trying not to think what he should do when he should see Don John before him and at arm's length, but defended by the King's presence from any sudden violence. He knew that in his heart there was the wild resolve to tell the truth before his master and then to take the payment of blood with one thrust and destroy himself with ...
— In The Palace Of The King - A Love Story Of Old Madrid • F. Marion Crawford

... take such an interest in your breakfast, as to wish your frame, exhausted by the debilitating effects of prodigygality, to be stimilated by the 'olesome nourishment of your forefathers. And yet," said Pumblechook, turning to the landlord and waiter, and pointing me out at arm's length, "this is him as I ever sported with in his days of happy infancy! Tell me not it cannot be; I ...
— Great Expectations • Charles Dickens

... that rose over Caester Hill and formed a strong base for the clump of great trees that made a landmark for many a mile around. During the first part of her journey between the house and the hilltop, she tried to hold her purpose at arm's length; it would be sufficient to face its terrors when the time had come. In the meantime the matter was of such overwhelming importance that nothing else could take its place; all she could do was to suspend the active part of the ...
— The Man • Bram Stoker

... Percy Roden and Otto von Holzen, and lastly, though not leastly, Mrs. Vansittart, in ten minutes than Tony Cornish could have learnt in a month of patient investigation. The first five of these ten precious minutes were spent in kissing Dorothy Roden, and admiring her hat, and holding her at arm's length, and saying, with conviction, that she was a dear. Then Joan asked why Dorothy had ceased writing, and Dorothy proved that it was Joan who had been in default, and lo! a bridge was thrown across the years, and they ...
— Roden's Corner • Henry Seton Merriman


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