not touch with a ten-foot pole

Meaning: (idiomatic)Toavoidsomething at all costs; torefusetoassociatewith something; signifies a strongaversion.1873.Ambrose Bierce (under the pseudonym Dod Grile),The Fiend's DelightIn conclusion, his respect for letter-writing ladies is so great that hewould not touch one of them with a ten-foot pole.1912, Ambrose Bierce, “A Providential Intimation”, inThe Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce‎[1], volume 8:... the stock's gone up from nothin' out o' sight. Youcouldn't tech that stock with a ten-foot pole!1999.David Morefield,The Guardian: I spy, the new 007:Serious actors of the worldwouldn't touch the part with a ten-foot pole.; (idiomatic)To be unable (perhaps figuratively) to approach something or someone.Francis Lynde,The Quickening:On the contrary, my dear Mr. Gordon, it is because I do know him, or know of him, that I am turning him over to you. You are the one person in the world to obtain that coal lease. I confess I couldn'ttouch the Major with a ten-foot pole, any more than you could go North and get the cash. But you are his neighbor, and he likes you. What you recommend, he'll do.

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