| 释义 |
at arm's length
 arm1arm 1 A0425900 (ärm)n.1. An upper limb of the human body, connecting the hand and wrist to the shoulder.2. A part similar to a human arm, such as the forelimb of an animal or a long part projecting from a central support in a machine.3. Something, such as a sleeve on a garment or a support on a chair, that is designed to cover or support the human arm.4. A relatively narrow extension jutting out from a large mass: an arm of the sea. See Synonyms at branch.5. An administrative or functional branch, as of an organization.6. Power or authority: the long arm of the law.7. Sports The skill of throwing or pitching a ball well.Idioms: an arm and a leg Slang An excessively high price: a cruise that cost an arm and a leg. arm in arm With arms linked together: They walked across the beach arm in arm. at arm's length At such a distance that physical or social contact is discouraged: kept the newcomer at arm's length at first. with open arms With great cordiality and hospitality.
[Middle English, from Old English earm; see ar- in Indo-European roots.]
armed (ärmd) adj.
arm 2 A0425900 (ärm)n.1. A weapon, especially a firearm: troops bearing arms; ICBMs, bombs, and other nuclear arms.2. A branch of a military force: infantry, armor, and other combat arms.3. armsa. Warfare: a call to arms against the invaders.b. Military service: several million volunteers under arms; the profession of arms.4. armsa. Heraldry Bearings.b. Insignia, as of a state, an official, a family, or an organization.v. armed, arm·ing, arms v.intr.1. To supply or equip oneself with weaponry.2. To prepare oneself for warfare or conflict.v.tr.1. To equip with weapons: armed themselves with loaded pistols; arm a missile with a warhead; arm a nation for war.2. To equip with what is needed for effective action: tax advisers who were armed with the latest forms.3. To provide with something that strengthens or protects: a space reentry vehicle that was armed with a ceramic shield.4. To prepare (a weapon or electronic system, such as an alarm) for use or operation, as by releasing a safety device.Idiom: up in arms Extremely upset; indignant.
[From Middle English armes, weapons, from Old French, pl. of arme, weapon, from Latin arma, weapons; see ar- in Indo-European roots. Verb, Middle English armen, from Old French armer, from Latin armāre, from arma.]
armed (ärmd) adj.arm′er n.
ARMabbr. adjustable-rate mortgageThesaurus| Adv. | 1. |  at arm's length - at some distance; "keep someone at arm's length" |
at arm's length
at arm's lengthAt or occupying a distance, either physical or figurative, away from oneself that affords a level of safety or security or that excludes intimacy. I'm involved in all the board meetings, but I prefer to stay at arm's length if the issues become too contentious. John always keeps his friends at arm's length, so that no one gets close enough to hurt his feelings.See also: lengthat arm's lengthAt a distance, avoiding intimacy or familiarity, as in Bill hated seeing his colleagues outside the office, preferring to keep all of them at arm's length , or She was friendly only when he was safely at arm's length. Now often used with the verb keep, this term for distancing oneself from a person, organization, or issue originated as at arm's end but developed its current form by the mid-1600s. See also: lengthat arm's length COMMON If one person or organization is at arm's length from another, they are not closely connected, for example because it would be wrong for them to influence one another. The prison service is moving towards becoming a self-regulating agency at arm's length from government. Relations between the bank and the committee will be at arm's length until the report is delivered in July.See also: length at arm's length At such a distance that physical or social contact is discouraged: kept the newcomer at arm's length at first.See also: lengthEncyclopediaSeeARMMedicalSeearm |