poles apart
Totally opposite.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“My brother and I are poles apart in our interests.”
“Although they have been friends for years, their political views are poles apart.”
“The two candidates were poles apart on every major issue, making a compromise impossible during the debate.”
- 01
bare poles
The condition of a sailing boat when all of its sails have been taken in.
- 02
come apart at the seams
Synonym of fall apart.
- 03
drift apart
To lose contact, to lose one's friendship or closeness.
- 04
fall apart
To be emotionally in crisis.
- 05
grow apart
To gradually become estranged.
- 06
high on the totem pole
Accorded relatively high importance.
- 07
low on the totem pole
Accorded relatively little importance.
- 08
not touch with a barge pole
To avoid something at all costs; to refuse to associate with something; (signifies a strong aversion).
Last updated August 10, 2026