keep somebody at a distance

And he'll use that to keep us at a distance.

What made her safe when the rest of the world was kept at a distance.

What would it do to her own child to have a father who always kept at a distance?

The press has been kept at a distance much of the time.

Otherwise, she would have kept him at a distance for months.

But some said they did not know how long the conflict could be kept at a distance.

He had few words for these women and kept them at a distance.

That will be the way to keep war at a distance.

I knew there was no doubt about this, and kept these people at a distance.

All the while, keeping me at a distance, without even the touch of her hand.