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maintaining distance

[meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ ˈdɪstəns]
verb phrase
manter distância
1. keeping a physical or emotional separation between oneself and another person or object
The health official recommended maintaining distance during the pandemic.
O oficial de saúde recomendou manter distância durante a pandemia.
2. deliberately staying apart from someone to avoid intimacy, conflict, or involvement
He is maintaining distance from his former business partner.
Ele está mantendo distância de seu antigo sócio comercial.
3. preserving professional or formal boundaries in a relationship
The teacher maintains distance with her students to ensure professionalism.
A professora mantém distância com seus alunos para garantir profissionalismo.
NYC Slang
keeping it real distant / staying in your lane
Synonyms
keeping distancestaying apartsocial distancingkeeping one's distanceremaining detached
Antonyms
getting closeapproachingdrawing nearclosing the gapbecoming intimate

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
manter distância
most common usage in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
manter distância / ficar longe
informal alternative: ficar longe
São Paulo
manter distância / se afastar
alternative: se afastar is more action-oriented
Portugal
manter distância / guardar distância
guardar distância is more commonly used in Portugal

Related Idioms & Phrases

keep someone at arm's length
give someone space
draw a line
put distance between
stay at a distance
manter as distâncias (Portuguese idiom)
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