not touch something with a ten foot pole

English

Etymology

This expression may have been derived by the 10-foot poles that river boatmen used to pole their boats with, along in shallow water, or from the barge poles that bargemen used to fend off wharfs and other boats.

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.
   • 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.
   • 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.

   • Ambrose Bierce, The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, Vol. 8:

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

Usage notes

This expression is nearly always used in the negative.

Translations

to avoid at all costs

Italian: (idiomatic) essere come il diavolo e l'acqua santa (it) Swedish: inte ta i med tång

See also

• not be caught dead
• over my dead body
• not touch something with a barge pole