What Does GIVE THE WIDE BERTH mean?

English is full of colorful idioms that reveal how people really think, feel, and interact. One such expression is “give the wide berth.” This phrase appears frequently in conversations, books, movies, and news reports. Understanding the meaning of give the wide berth, its origin, and how to use it naturally will help you sound more fluent and more connected to real-world English.

Whether you’re a learner aiming for fluency or a teacher helping students master authentic language, this is an expression worth knowing. Let’s explore it in depth.

Meaning of GIVE THE WIDE BERTH (Simple, Clear, and Memorable)

Here’s the definition we read in the Merrian Webster Dictionary to give the wide berth:

to avoid or stay away from (someone or something)

In simple terms, you keep your distance on purpose. You deliberately stay away from someone or something — especially to avoid problems, danger, discomfort, or unpleasant situations.

It’s not accidental. It’s intentional.

Imagine you see someone who always complains, creates drama, or makes you uncomfortable. What do you do? You don’t walk toward them. You walk the other way. You avoid them. You give them the wide berth.

It’s like creating an invisible safety zone between you and the source of trouble.

This expression can be used for:

• people
• situations
• places
• topics

It often carries an emotional or psychological component — avoidance driven by caution, fear, wisdom, or experience.

Examples of GIVE THE WIDE BERTH

Here are examples you might hear in everyday English:

• Everyone at the office gives him the wide berth after his angry outburst last week.
• I saw my ex at the party and gave her the wide berth.
• I give people with colds a wide berth.
• Most tourists give that neighborhood the wide berth at night.
• I could see that she was in a bad mood, so I gave her a wide berth.
• She gives showbiz parties a wide berth.
• After that bad experience, she gives aggressive drivers the wide berth.
• He tends to give controversial topics the wide berth during meetings.
• The dog looked nervous, so I gave it the wide berth.

Notice how natural and versatile the expression is.

Register, Usage, and Practical Tips

This expression is:

• Neutral in tone
• Suitable for spoken and written English
• Common in both formal and informal contexts

You’ll hear it in:

• conversations
• news articles
• business contexts
• storytelling
• literature

Examples in different contexts:

Professional context:
Managers now give that issue the wide berth to avoid legal complications.

Informal conversation:
I give him the wide berth. He’s always negative.

Narrative storytelling:
She instinctively gave him the wide berth.

Important grammatical pattern:

give + person/thing + the wide berth

Examples:

• give him the wide berth
• give her the wide berth
• give that area the wide berth
• give the topic the wide berth

You can also use it in past tense:

• gave him the wide berth
• have given her the wide berth

Origin of GIVE THE WIDE BERTH

The origin of give the wide berth comes from nautical (maritime) language.

In sailing terminology, a berth refers to the space allocated for a ship.

When sailors approached dangerous objects — like rocks, reefs, or other ships — they would give them a wide berth, meaning they kept a safe distance to avoid collision or damage.

Over time, this literal meaning evolved into a metaphorical one.

Instead of ships avoiding rocks, people avoid problems.

The mental image remains powerful: distance equals safety.

Synonyms and Similar Expressions

Here are common alternatives and related expressions:

Direct synonyms:

• avoid someone
• stay away from someone
• keep your distance
• steer clear of someone
• keep away from someone

Example:
I steer clear of office gossip.
(I give office gossip the wide berth.)

Informal and conversational alternatives:

• keep clear of
• stay clear of
• give someone space
• dodge someone (informal)

Example:
I dodge him whenever I can.
(I give him the wide berth.)

Slightly more informal expressions:

• stay out of someone’s way
• not go near someone

Each carries a similar idea of intentional avoidance.

Final Thoughts: Mastering GIVE THE WIDE BERTH

To summarize, this idiom means to intentionally avoid someone or something, usually to prevent problems, discomfort, or danger.

It originated in nautical language but is now a common and powerful expression in modern English.

You can use it in professional contexts, casual conversations, storytelling, and teaching.

Mastering expressions like this moves you closer to real fluency — the kind based not just on grammar, but on natural usage.

And that’s exactly how real English works.