a soft berth
An easy post, position, or job. After retiring from the military, I landed a nice soft berth as a consultant for a security firm. I didn't run for mayor expecting to find a soft berth—I'm prepared to fight for the changes I believe will make this a better city! Are you sure you're up for this? Digitizing all of these files is not going to be a soft berth—or a quick one.
an easy berth
An easy post, position, or job. After retiring from the military, I landed a nice easy berth as a consultant for a security firm. I didn't run for mayor expecting to find an easy berth—I'm prepared to fight for the changes I believe will make this a better city! Are you sure you're up for this? Digitizing all of these files is not going to be an easy berth—or a quick one.
give (someone or something) a wide berth
1. To maintain a good distance from someone or something. Originally referred to ships. Once I learned that there was a lice outbreak, I gave all of my students a wide berth for the rest of the day. We've been giving John a wide berth ever since he dumped our good friend. I'm sorry, but I have to give your dog a wide berth. I'm really scared of dogs.
2. By extension, to avoid interacting or dealing with someone or something. The government has given the cyber security company a wide berth ever since its data breach became public knowledge. I would give those holistic medicine quacks a wide berth, if I were you. Anyone who claims to have miracle cures not supported by scientific evidence is trying to con you. You can't pass these controversial policies and then try to give them a wide berth in your re-election campaign!
give a wide berth to (someone or something)
1. To maintain a good distance from someone or something. Originally referred to ships. Once I learned that there was a lice outbreak, I gave a wide berth to all of my students for the rest of the day. We've been giving a wide berth to John ever since he dumped our good friend. I'm sorry, but I have to give your a wide berth to your dog. I'm really scared of dogs.
2. By extension, to avoid interacting or dealing with someone or something. The government has given a wide berth to the cyber security company ever since its data breach became public knowledge. I would give a wide berth to anyone who claims to have some sort of miracle cure not supported by scientific evidence. You can't pass these controversial policies and then try to give a wide berth to them in your re-election campaign!
wide berth
A good distance (between things, people, etc.). Originally referred to ships. Once I learned that there was a lice outbreak, I kept a wide berth from all of my students for the rest of the day. We've been keeping a wide berth from John ever since he dumped our good friend.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
give someone or something a wide berth
Fig. to keep a reasonable distance from someone or something; to steer clear (of someone or something). (Originally referred to sailing ships.) The dog we are approaching is very mean. Better give it a wide berth. Give Mary a wide berth. She's in a very bad mood.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
give a wide berth
Avoid, as in After Jane told on them, they gave her a wide berth. This expression alludes to giving a vessel enough room to swing at anchor so as to avoid a collision. [Mid-1800s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
give someone/something a wide berth
If you give someone or something a wide berth, you deliberately avoid them. I don't mess with people like that, not me. I give them a wide berth. Having lived all my life in Africa I have a very healthy respect for snakes and give them a wide berth. Note: A berth is the amount of space which a sailing ship needs to manoeuvre safely.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
give someone or something a wide berth
stay away from someone or something. Berth is a nautical term which originally referred to the distance that ships should keep away from each other or from the shore, rocks, etc., in order to avoid a collision. Therefore, the literal meaning of the expression is ‘steer a ship well clear of something while passing it’.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
give somebody/something a wide ˈberth
avoid meeting somebody; avoid going near or using something: He’s so boring I always try to give him a wide berth at parties. ♢ The roads are very dangerous there — I’d give them a wide berth and go by train.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
soft berth
n. an easy situation; employment at an easy job. I hope I can arrange a soft berth for my brother, who just applied for a job here.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
a wide berth
Ample space or distance to avoid an unwanted consequence: gave their angry colleague a wide berth.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
give a wide berth to, to
To avoid. This term, which in the eighteenth century literally meant to give a ship plenty of room to swing at anchor, was transferred to other objects of avoidance and soon became a cliché. “I recommend you to keep a wide berth of me, sir,” wrote Thackeray (The Newcomes, 1854).
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer