arm's length

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Roosevelt disliked Woodruff and kept him at arm’s length, although he did allow Pinchot to hire Woodruff at the Agriculture Department.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

Several, including the SNP, have suggested cutting the number of "quangos" - arm's length public bodies.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

The moon, appearing about the size of a bowling ball at arm’s length to the crew, hung in the nothingness.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Noah Petro, head of NASA's planetary geology lab, told AFP that the Moon will look to the astronauts "about the size of a basketball held at arm's length."

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

We held each other at arm’s length to look, we babbled questions all at once.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom