Meanings
alternative not touch something with a barge pole
- idiomaticTo avoid something at all costs; to refuse to associate with something; signifies a strong aversion.
1873. Ambrose Bierce (under the pseudonym Dod Grile), The Fiend's Delight In conclusion, his respect for letter-writing ladies is so great that he would not touch one of them with a ten-foot pole.
2 more examples
... the stock's gone up from nothin' out o' sight. You couldn't tech that stock with a ten-foot pole!
1912, Ambrose Bierce, “A Providential Intimation”, in The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, volume 8Serious actors of the world wouldn't touch the part with a ten-foot pole.
1999. David Morefield, The Guardian: I spy, the new 007 - idiomaticTo be unable (perhaps figuratively) to approach something or someone.
1 more example
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't touch 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.
Francis Lynde, The Quickening
Origin
Sense 1 attested in 1846; sense 2 in 1844.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 唯恐避之不及
- 唯恐避之不及to avoid at all costs
Danish ikke røre med en ildtang
- ikke røre med en ildtangto avoid at all costs
Finnish olla koskematta pitkällä tikullakaan
- olla koskematta pitkällä tikullakaanto avoid at all costs
French éviter à tout prix
- éviter à tout prixto avoid at all costs
German nicht einmal mit der Kneifzange anfassen
- nicht einmal mit der Kneifzange anfassento avoid at all costs
Hungarian bottal sem piszkálná meg
- bottal sem piszkálná megto avoid at all costs
Italian essere come il diavolo e l'acqua santa
- essere come il diavolo e l'acqua santato avoid at all costs
Polish unikać za wszelką cenę
- unikać za wszelką cenęto avoid at all costs
Russian обходи́ть за версту́
- обходи́ть за версту́ (obxodítʹ za verstú)to avoid at all costs
Spanish no tocar ni con un palo
- no tocar ni con un paloto avoid at all costs
Swedish inte ta i med tång
- inte ta i med tångto avoid at all costs
Cite this entry
not touch with a ten-foot pole. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/not%20touch%20with%20a%20ten-foot%20pole
“not touch with a ten-foot pole.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/not%20touch%20with%20a%20ten-foot%20pole. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “not touch with a ten-foot pole,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/not%20touch%20with%20a%20ten-foot%20pole.
Source: not touch with a ten-foot pole on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.