Not touch with a barge pole Meaning in English
expression
Definition
This expression means to completely avoid something or someone because you think it is bad, unpleasant, or risky. It refers to not wanting any involvement at all.
Usage & Nuances
Extremely informal, mainly British English; rarely used in American English. Often used for things, people, or proposals considered repellent or risky: 'I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.' US equivalent: 'wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole.' Can apply to both tangible and abstract things.
Example Sentences
I would not touch that with a barge pole.
basic
Most people would not touch that job with a barge pole.
basic
She said she would not touch the offer with a barge pole.
basic
Honestly, I wouldn't touch that investment with a barge pole.
natural
My friends wouldn’t touch online dating with a barge pole after their last experience.
natural
After that scandal, no one would touch his company with a barge pole.
natural