“keep one's distance”是英语中常用的短语,核心含义是主动保持距离,可用于物理空间或情感/关系两种场景,具体如下:
字面直译是“保持某人的距离”,实际表示:
1、 物理上的“保持安全/适当距离”:避免与某人/某物在空间上过于靠近(如避开危险、遵守规则);
2、 情感/关系上的“疏远”:刻意与某人保持界限,不发展亲密关系或避免卷入麻烦。
通常与介词from搭配,构成:
keep one's distance from sb/sth(与某人/某物保持距离)其中“one's”需根据主语替换为对应的物主代词(my/your/his/her/our/their等)。
强调“空间上的安全距离”,常见于提醒注意危险、遵守规则:
You should keep your distance from the fire—it’s too hot.(你得离火远点儿,太烫了。)
When cycling, keep a safe distance from cars.(骑车时,要和汽车保持安全距离。)
The sign says to keep your distance from the construction site.(牌子上写着要远离建筑工地。)
强调“心理上的界限”,用于不想与某人/某事过于亲近:
After their fight, she decided to keep her distance from him.(吵架后,她决定和他保持距离。)
I keep my distance from gossip—I don’t want to get involved.(我远离流言蜚语,不想卷入其中。)
He keeps his distance from his colleagues outside work.(工作外他和同事保持疏远。)
口语中常省略“one's”,直接说:
Keep your distance!(别靠近!/保持距离!)(用于提醒对方注意安全或不要亲近)
例:Keep your distance! That dog is aggressive.(别靠近!那只狗很凶。)
该短语强调主动保持距离(不是被动“被疏远”);
不可说“keep distance of”,正确搭配是“keep distance from”;
可在“distance”前加形容词(如safe/proper/reasonable),强化“距离的性质”:
Keep a reasonable distance from the stranger.(和陌生人保持合理距离。)
“keep one's distance”是一个灵活的短语,既可以描述具体的“空间距离”,也可以表达抽象的“关系疏远”,核心是“主动划清界限”。根据语境判断其具体含义即可。