# wide berth

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/wide-berth
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A considerable or comfortable distance from a person or object, especially for safety or deliberate avoidance.

## Examples

- Give that angry dog a wide berth.
- I always give my boss a wide berth when he is having a bad day.
- The experienced sailor steered the ship to give the jagged, hidden rocks a wide berth during the storm.

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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.