not touch with a ten-foot pole

English

Alternative forms

• not touch something with a barge pole (British)

Etymology

Disputed.

Pronunciation

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Verb

not touch (something) with a ten-foot pole

1. (idiomatic) To avoid something at all costs; to refuse to associate with something; signifies a strong aversion.
   • 1873. Ambrose Bierce (under the pseudonym Dod Grile), The Fiend's Delight

     In conclusion, his respect for letter-writing ladies is so great that he would not touch one of them with a ten-foot pole.

   • 1912, Ambrose Bierce, “A Providential Intimation”, in The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce‎^[1], volume 8:

     ... the stock's gone up from nothin' out o' sight. You couldn't tech that stock with a ten-foot pole!

   • 1999. David Morefield, The Guardian: I spy, the new 007:

     Serious actors of the world wouldn't touch the part with a ten-foot pole.

2. (idiomatic) To be unable (perhaps figuratively) to approach something or someone.
   • Francis Lynde, The Quickening:

     On the contrary, my dear Mr. Gordon, it is because I do know him, or know of him, that I am turning him over to you. You are the one person in the world to obtain that coal lease. I confess I couldn't touch the Major with a ten-foot pole, any more than you could go North and get the cash. But you are his neighbor, and he likes you. What you recommend, he'll do.

Usage notes

This expression is nearly always used in the negative.

Translations

to avoid at all costs

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 唯恐避之不及

• Danish: ikke røre med en ildtang
• Finnish: olla koskematta pitkällä tikullakaan
• French: éviter à tout prix
• German: mit der Kneifzange nicht anfassen
• Hungarian: bottal sem piszkálná meg
• Italian: (idiomatic) essere come il diavolo e l'acqua santa
• Polish: unikać za wszelką cenę
• Russian: обходи́ть за версту́ impf (obxodítʹ za verstú)
• Spanish: no tocar ni con un palo
• Swedish: inte ta i med tång

See also

• can't stand the sight of
• not be caught dead
• over my dead body