at arm's length »
Avoiding a close relationship.
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back away »
Of your attention on the thing in front being avoided.
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bat away »
To avoid by diverting the focus of a discussion.
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beat around the bush »
To delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant.
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beg off »
To avoid, or cancel some event that one has previously arranged with someone.
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break the ice »
To start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness.
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busy work »
Work or activity performed with the intention or result of occupying time, and not necessarily to accomplish something productive; routine work of low priority undertaken for the sake of avoiding idleness.
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chicken out »
To shy away from a daring task; to decline, refuse, or avoid something due to fear or uncertainty.
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cop out »
To avoid or shirk, either by failing to perform, or by performing in a grossly insufficient, negligent, or superficial manner.
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cop-out »
An excuse made in order to avoid performing a task or duty; a reason offered when someone cops out.
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cop-out »
Avoidance or inadequate performance of a task or duty; the action of copping out.
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do-or-die »
Requiring a determined or desperate effort to avoid the consequences of failure.
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dodge a bullet »
To have a narrow escape; to avoid injury or disaster.
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drag one's feet »
To procrastinate, put off; to dawdle, avoid, or make progress slowly and reluctantly.
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drop back »
Of a quarterback or other player in the backfield, to take a number of steps back from the line of scrimmage immediately after the snap or hike of the ball, to avoid defenders.
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dumb down »
To convey some subject matter in simple terms, avoiding technical or academic language, especially in a way that is considered condescending.
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feed a cold, starve a fever »
Eating more will cure the common cold, and eating less will cure a fever.1887, J. H. Whelan, "The Treatment of Colds.", The Practitioner, vol. 38, pg. 180:"Feed a cold, starve a fever." There is a deal of wisdom in the first part of this advice. A person with a catarrh should take an abundance of light nutritious food, and some light wine, but avoid spirits, and above all tobacco.1968, Katinka Loeser, The Archers at Home, publ. Atheneum, New York, pg. 60:I have a cold. 'Feed a cold, starve a fever.' You certainly know that.2009, Shelly Reuben, Tabula Rasa, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ISBN 015101079X, pg. 60:They say feed a cold, starve a fever, but they don't tell you what to do when you got both, so I figured scrambled eggs, tea, and toast.
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fight shy of »
To avoid something.
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fly-by-night »
One who departs or flees at night in order to avoid creditors, law enforcement etc. .
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fools rush in where angels fear to tread »
A person who does not plan ahead and think matters through becomes involved in risky or unfavorable situations which prudent people avoid.
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hot potato »
A child's game in which players pass a ball or other item between them, with the object of avoiding being left holding the item when time expires.
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if it ain't broke, don't fix it »
Leave something alone; avoid correcting, fixing, or improving what is already sufficient, as it could end up being detrimental
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keep away from »
To avoid.
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keep one's cards close to one's chest »
To avoid revealing one's thoughts, circumstances, or plans.
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keep straight »
To avoid confusing or mixing up something; to keep something clear or organized.
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leave well enough alone »
To leave something alone; to avoid attempts to correct, fix, or improve what is already sufficient.
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leave well enough alone »
To leave something alone; to avoid attempts to correct, fix, or improve what is already sufficient
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let sleeping dogs lie »
To leave things as they are; especially, to avoid restarting or rekindling an old argument; to leave disagreements in the past.
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make oneself scarce »
To leave or depart, or to avoid or stay away.
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mills of the gods grind slowly »
Justice may arrive slowly, but it cannot be avoided.
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near miss »
narrowly avoided accident
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not touch something with a ten foot pole »
To avoid something at all costs; to refuse to associate with something; signifies a strong aversion.
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ox is in the ditch »
This is a big problem; there is unavoidable or demanding work ahead.
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pay the piper »
To pay a monetary debt or experience unfavorable consequences, especially when the payment or consequences are inevitable in spite of attempts to avoid them.
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play dumb »
To pretend to be slow-witted or lacking in specific knowledge, usually in order to avoid responsibility or to gain some advantage.
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pronunciamiento »
A military uprising or coup in Spain or the Spanish American republics, particularly in the 19th century. They received this designation because coups were usually accompanied by a statement declaring the existing government null and void.
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put by »
To run a ship aground intentionally to avoid a collision.
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ride one's luck »
To avoid failure only by good fortune.
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rumor campaign »
A method of persuasion in which damaging rumors or innuendo are deliberately spread concerning a person or other target, while the source of the rumors tries to avoid detection.
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run scared »
To try everything to avoid defeat.
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set aside »
To declare something invalid or null and void.
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shoot oneself in the foot »
To deliberately sabotage an activity in order to avoid obligation, though it causes personal suffering. Origins in first world war trench warfare.
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shrinking violet »
A very shy person, who avoids contact with others if avoidable.
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skip out »
To shirk; to avoid attending or to leave early, especially without permission.
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sleep on it »
To postpone a decision until the following day to avoid making a hasty choice.
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steer clear »
To avoid; to dodge; to sidestep.
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strike while the iron is hot »
To act on an opportunity promptly; to avoid waiting.
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take a powder »
To leave in a hurry; run away; scram; depart without taking leave or notifying anyone, often with a connotation of avoiding something unpleasant or shirking responsibility.
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take the bull by the horns »
To confront a difficulty, rather than avoiding it.
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tread lightly »
To proceed carefully; especially, to seek to avoid causing offense.
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watch one's mouth »
In the imperative form, used as a warning to avoid or stop using inappropriate language, especially profanity, or disrespectful utterances.
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whisper campaign »
A method of persuasion in which damaging rumors or innuendo are deliberately spread concerning a person or other target, while the source of the rumors tries to avoid detection.
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willful ignorance »
A bad faith decision to avoid becoming informed about something so as to avoid having to make undesirable decisions that such information might prompt. It may also be shown as for a person to have no clue in a decision but still goes ahead in their decision.
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you don't dip your pen in company ink »
One should avoid romantic relationships in the workplace.
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