a wide berth

a wide berth
Berth Berth (b[~e]rth), n. [From the root of bear to produce, like birth nativity. See {Birth}.] [Also written {birth}.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Naut.) (a) Convenient sea room. (b) A room in which a number of the officers or ship's company mess and reside. (c) The place where a ship lies when she is at anchor, or at a wharf. [1913 Webster]

2. An allotted place; an appointment; situation or employment. ``He has a good berth.'' --Totten. [1913 Webster]

3. A place in a ship to sleep in; a long box or shelf on the side of a cabin or stateroom, or of a railway car, for sleeping in. [1913 Webster]

{Berth deck}, the deck next below the lower gun deck. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.

{To give} (the land or any object) {a wide berth}, to keep at a distance from it. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • wide berth — If you give someone a wide berth, you keep yourself well away from them because they are dangerous …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • wide berth — noun a) Adequate distance from sea vessels or other objects to ensure safety and maneuverability. Steer to port and give the rocks a wide berth. b) A considerable or comfortable distance from a person or object, especially for safety or… …   Wiktionary

  • wide berth —    If you give someone a wide berth, you keep yourself well away from them because they are dangerous.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • Wide berth —   If you give someone a wide berth, you keep yourself well away from them because they are dangerous …   Dictionary of English idioms

  • give a wide berth — steer (a ship) well clear of something while passing it ships are advised to give a wide berth to the Outer Banks ■ figurativestay away from someone or something I d sworn to give women a wide berth * * * give (someone or something) a wide berth …   Useful english dictionary

  • give something a wide berth — give someone/something/a wide berth informal phrase to avoid someone or something People tend to give him a wide berth because he looks so strange. Thesaurus: to avoid doing something, or to avoid somethingsynonym …   Useful english dictionary

  • give someone or something a wide berth — give (someone or something) a wide berth : to avoid or stay away from (someone or something) I could see that she was in a bad mood, so I gave her a wide berth. • • • Main Entry: ↑berth give (someone or something) a wide berth see ↑berth, 1 • • • …   Useful english dictionary

  • give a wide berth — {v. phr.} To keep away from; keep a safe distance from. * /Mary gave the barking dog a wide berth./ * /Jack gave a wide berth to the fallen electric wires./ * /After Tom got Bob into trouble. Bob gave him a wide berth./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • give a wide berth — {v. phr.} To keep away from; keep a safe distance from. * /Mary gave the barking dog a wide berth./ * /Jack gave a wide berth to the fallen electric wires./ * /After Tom got Bob into trouble. Bob gave him a wide berth./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • give\ a\ wide\ berth — v. phr. To keep away from; keep a safe distance from. Mary gave the barking dog a wide berth. Jack gave a wide berth to the fallen electric wires. After Tom got Bob into trouble. Bob gave him a wide berth …   Словарь американских идиом

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