He keeps his neighbors at arm's length.
arm's length
idiomDistant, detached.
The manager keeps his staff at arm's length to maintain his professional authority.
She preferred to keep her business associates at arm's length, fearing that personal friendships might eventually complicate their professional dealings.
- 01
short of a length
of a ball that pitches short of a good length; a ball that bounces closer to the bowler than the area of the pitch regarded as the best for dismissing or restricting the scoring of the batsman.
- 02
the length of the Flemington straight
A long way, a great distance, a large gap, a lot.