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Arm's length   /ɑrmz lɛŋkθ/   Listen
noun
Arm  n.  
1.
The limb of the human body which extends from the shoulder to the hand; also, the corresponding limb of a monkey.
2.
Anything resembling an arm; as,
(a)
The fore limb of an animal, as of a bear.
(b)
A limb, or locomotive or prehensile organ, of an invertebrate animal.
(c)
A branch of a tree.
(d)
A slender part of an instrument or machine, projecting from a trunk, axis, or fulcrum; as, the arm of a steelyard.
(e)
(Naut) The end of a yard; also, the part of an anchor which ends in the fluke.
(f)
An inlet of water from the sea.
(g)
A support for the elbow, at the side of a chair, the end of a sofa, etc.
3.
Fig.: Power; might; strength; support; as, the secular arm; the arm of the law. "To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?"
Arm's end, the end of the arm; a good distance off.
Arm's length, the length of the arm.
Arm's reach, reach of the arm; the distance the arm can reach.
To go arm in arm (or To walk arm in arm), to go with the arm or hand of one linked in the arm of another. "When arm in armwe went along."
To keep at arm's length, to keep at a distance (literally or figuratively); not to allow to come into close contact or familiar intercourse.
To work at arm's length, to work disadvantageously.


Arms  n. pl.  
1.
Instruments or weapons of offense or defense. "He lays down his arms, but not his wiles." "Three horses and three goodly suits of arms."
2.
The deeds or exploits of war; military service or science. "Arms and the man I sing."
3.
(Law) Anything which a man takes in his hand in anger, to strike or assault another with; an aggressive weapon.
4.
(Her.) The ensigns armorial of a family, consisting of figures and colors borne in shields, banners, etc., as marks of dignity and distinction, and descending from father to son.
5.
(Falconry) The legs of a hawk from the thigh to the foot.
Bred to arms, educated to the profession of a soldier.
In arms, armed for war; in a state of hostility.
Small arms, portable firearms known as muskets, rifles, carbines, pistols, etc.
A stand of arms, a complete set for one soldier, as a musket, bayonet, cartridge box and belt; frequently, the musket and bayonet alone.
To arms! a summons to war or battle.
Under arms, armed and equipped and in readiness for battle, or for a military parade.
Arm's end,
Arm's length,
Arm's reach. See under Arm.





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Arm's length" Quotes from Famous Books



... glimmered in my mind—nay, not merely a hope but a fair certainty that ruin could be held at arm's length for a while. So possessed was I by absolute faith in Sir William Johnson's strain, called Hurons, that I listened approvingly to Sir Peter's plans for a dashing recoup. After all, it was now or never; the gamblers' fever seized me, too, in a vise-like grip. Why should I not win a thousand ...
— The Reckoning • Robert W. Chambers
... somehow matched the homeliness of his greeting. "You slipped in so quiet on them dainty little feet of yours I never heared you comin' a-tall." He took her small hands in his broad pudgy ones, holding her off at arm's length. "And don't you look purty! Mighty nigh any woman looks cool and sweet when she's got on white fixin's, but when a girl like you puts 'em on—well, child, there ain't no use talkin', you shorely are a sight to cure sore eyes. And you git to favour your sweet mother more and more ...
— From Place to Place • Irvin S. Cobb
... weapon at arm's length, and presently Simba himself, accompanied by some of his men, one of whom carried a skin of water and another a large cup hollowed from an elephant's tusk, rode up to us. This Simba was a fine ...
— The Ivory Child • H. Rider Haggard
... fight you," said the big man, slowly. Without the least hesitation, he advanced and laid a hand upon the other man's shoulder, facing him at arm's length and ...
— A Breath of Prairie and other stories • Will Lillibridge
... or more he made a pretence of reading the papers, and looking at the pictures in a stray magazine, thus keeping himself at arm's length, as it were. But after a while even that restraint became unendurable. He went to the back door of the house and opened it. The collies appeared in a delighted group to rush into the house. He suffered them to ...
— Peak and Prairie - From a Colorado Sketch-book • Anna Fuller


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