distance (redirected from distances)

Distance lends enchantment (to the view).

Prov. Things that are far away from you appear better than they really are. Jill: High school was the happiest time of my life. Jane: But that was fifteen years ago. I think distance lends enchantment to the view.

See also: lend

go the distance

Fig. to do the whole amount; to play the entire game; to run the whole race. (Originally sports use.) That horse runs fast. I hope it can go the distance. This is going to be a long, hard project. I hope I can go the distance.

keep someone or something at a distance

to retain some amount of physical distance from someone or something. Please try to keep Tom at a distance. He just gets in the way. I wanted to keep the smelly plant at a distance.

See also: keep

keep one's distance (from someone or something)

Fig. to maintain a respectful or cautious distance from someone or something. Keep your distance from John. He's in a bad mood. Keep your distance from the fire.

See also: keep

put some distance between (someone and oneself or something)

to move or travel away from someone or something. Jill and I aren't getting along. I need to put some distance between her and me. I drove fast to put some distance between Max and me.

See also: put, some

within hailing distance and within calling distance; within shouting distance

close enough to hear someone call out. When the boat came within hailing distance, I asked if I could borrow some gasoline. We weren't within shouting distance, so I couldn't hear what you said to me.

See also: hail, within

within walking distance

close enough to walk to. is the train station within walking distance? My office is within walking distance from here.

See also: walking, within

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go the (full) distance

to continue to do something until it is successfully completed It's a really tough course - I'm just worried that I won't be able to go the distance.

in/within spitting distance  also in/within striking distance

very close to something or someone (often + of ) The great thing about the house is that it's within spitting distance of the sea. The move to Ascot put us within striking distance of London.

See also: spit

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go the distance

to continue doing something until it is successfully completed The pitcher went the distance and has now won eight games in a row. The project would be difficult, but I agreed I would go the distance.

keep your distance (from somebody/something)

to avoid becoming too friendly or emotionally involved with someone I've seen her around the office, but she keeps her distance from most of us. The boy carefully kept his distance from the growling dog.

Related vocabulary: keep somebody/something at arm's length

See also: keep

within striking distance (of something) also in striking distance (of something)

1. very close to something The great thing about the house is that the ocean is within striking distance.

2. very close to achieving something The Republicans are within striking distance of winning the election.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the less polite but stronger form within spitting distance of something (very near): They live within spitting distance of my house, but luckily I don't see them much.

See also: striking, within