give a wide berth

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Also see: give | a | wide

berth n.

[countable]

a shelflike sleeping space, as on a ship:We had adjoining sleeping berths.
Nautical, Naval Terms
- , Nautical, Naval Termsa space assigned to a ship in which to dock or lie at anchor:The tugboat eased the liner into its berth.
a job;
place:competing for berths on the Olympic team.

to find, or provide with, a sleeping space: [~ + object]They were berthed in the cabin bedrooms.[no object]They berthed in the lower deck of the ship.
Nautical, Naval Terms(of a ship) to (cause it to) come to a dock: [~ + object]The captain berthed the ship and went below.[no object]The ship berthed smoothly.

Idioms

Idiomsgive a wide berth to, [~ + object] to keep a careful distance from:I'd give a wide berth to that job applicant.

berth n.

a shelflike sleeping space, as on a ship, airplane, or railroad car.
[Naut.]
- Naval Termsthe space allotted to a vessel at anchor or at a wharf.
- Naval Termsthe distance maintained between a vessel and the shore, another vessel, or any object.
- Naval Termsthe position or rank of a ship's officer.
- Naval Termsthe cabin of a ship's officer.
a job;
position.
a place, listing, or role:She clinched a berth on our tennis team.
Idioms give a wide berth to, to shun;
remain discreetly away from:Since his riding accident, he has given a wide berth to skittish horses.

v.t.

Naval Terms[Naut.]
- , Nautical, Naval Termsto allot to (a vessel) a certain space at which to anchor or tie up.
- , Naval Terms, Nauticalto bring to or install in a berth, anchorage, or moorage:The captain had to berth the ship without the aid of tugboats.
to provide with a sleeping space, as on a train.

v.i.

Nautical, Naval Termsto come to a dock, anchorage, or moorage.

probably bear¹ + -th¹ 1615–25

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

berth /bɜːθ/ n

a bed or bunk in a vessel or train, usually narrow and fixed to a wall
a place assigned to a ship at a mooring
sufficient distance from the shore or from other ships or objects for a ship to manoeuvre
give a wide berth to ⇒ to keep clear of; avoid
informal a job, esp as a member of a ship's crew

(transitive) to assign a berth to (a vessel)
to dock (a vessel)
(transitive) to provide with a sleeping place, as on a vessel or train
(intransitive) to pick up a mooring in an anchorage

Etymology: 17th Century: probably from bear¹ + -th¹

'give a wide berth' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

berth

Synonyms: keep clear of, stay away (from), avoid, more...

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