# not touch with a barge pole

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/not-touch-with-a-barge-pole
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To avoid something at all costs; to refuse to associate with something; (signifies a strong aversion).

## Examples

- I would not touch that deal with a barge pole.
- The company had such a bad reputation that most investors would not touch it with a barge pole.
- After hearing about the constant engine problems and the high price, my brother decided he would not touch that used car with a barge pole.
- Despite the tempting financial incentives offered by the firm, the seasoned consultant insisted he would not touch the project with a barge pole due to its questionable ethics.

## Origin

The expression probably derives from the long wooden poles used by bargemen to fend off wharfs, riverbanks, or other vessels. The pole allowed for the maintenance of a controlled distance from objects that were heavy, stationary, or socially inconvenient. While the specific date of the idiom's transition from the river to the lexicon is not recorded, the mechanics remain consistent: the pole provides exactly enough reach to ensure that one's person does not come into actual contact with the matter at hand. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.