Wide Berth

Pronunciation: /waɪd bɜrθ/

Definitions of wide berth

noun a cautious or careful distance maintained in order to avoid trouble or danger

Example Sentences

A1 I gave the scary dog a wide berth as I walked past.

A2 The hikers decided to give the bear a wide berth to avoid any potential danger.

B1 Drivers are advised to give cyclists a wide berth on the road to ensure safety.

B2 The experienced sailor knew to give the rocky shore a wide berth to avoid any accidents.

C1 The politician always kept a wide berth from controversial topics during interviews.

C2 The detective maintained a wide berth from the suspect until further evidence was gathered.

Examples of wide berth in a Sentence

formal It is advisable to give a wide berth to individuals who exhibit unethical behavior.

informal I always give that grumpy neighbor a wide berth to avoid any unnecessary drama.

slang I make sure to give that sketchy guy at the party a wide berth.

figurative He decided to give the topic a wide berth in conversation to avoid any conflict.

Grammatical Forms of wide berth

• past tense: widened
• plural: wide berths
• comparative: wider berth
• superlative: widest berth
• present tense: widens
• future tense: will widen
• perfect tense: have widened
• continuous tense: is widening
• singular: wide berth
• positive degree: wide berth
• infinitive: to widen berth
• gerund: widening berth
• participle: widening

Origin and Evolution of wide berth

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The phrase 'wide berth' originated from nautical terminology, referring to the distance kept between two ships to avoid collisions.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'wide berth' has expanded beyond nautical contexts to mean keeping a safe distance or avoiding someone or something. It is commonly used in everyday language to indicate maintaining a physical or metaphorical distance.