distance myself

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiom

   To deliberately become less involved with someone or something, often to avoid blame or association.

   Grammar: Always used with a reflexive pronoun and the preposition 'from': distance myself from the scandal.

   Patterns

   • distance myself from someone
   • distance myself from something
   • distance yourself from someone/something

   The minister tried to distance myself from the controversial remarks, but reporters kept asking questions.

   She distanced herself from her old friends after she got the new job.

   He quickly distanced himself from the company's failure to pay its workers.

2. 2phraseidiom

   To move physically away from a person or place, creating more space between you and them.

   Grammar: Used with a reflexive pronoun and 'from'; can refer to literal physical movement or emotional withdrawal.

   Patterns

   • distance myself from someone
   • distance myself from something

   I could feel the dog growling, so I distanced myself from it slowly.

   The crowd was pushing, so we distanced ourselves from the stage.

Common combinations

distance yourself from a scandal

The mayor tried to distance himself from the scandal before the election.

distance myself from the past

She wanted to distance herself from her past mistakes.

emotionally distance myself

After the argument, he emotionally distanced himself from everyone.

distance myself from a decision

The board distanced itself from the CEO's decision.

Synonyms and how they differ

dissociate myself

Stronger and more formal; often suggests a complete mental or official separation, while 'distance myself' can be gradual or social.

detach myself

Focuses on emotional or physical separation and is often used about feelings rather than public statements.

withdraw

Means to remove yourself from an activity or group; it does not need 'from' in the same fixed way and can be used without a reflexive pronoun.

Opposites

Word family

distance noun

The amount of space between two things, or emotional separation.

distant adjective

Far away in space or time, or emotionally cold and unfriendly.

distantly adverb

In a way that shows emotional coldness or physical farness.

Commonly confused: distance myself or distance me? distance myself or dissociate myself?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “distance myself”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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