Etymology:
- This expression may have been derived by the 10-foot poles that electricians and other utility workers use to de-energize transformers and other high voltage utility equipment before performing maintenance.
- This expression may have been derived by the 10-foot poles that river boatmen used to pole their boats with, along in shallow water, or from the barge poles that bargemen used to fend off wharfs and other boats.
- Many believe this expression originates from a burial practice in New Orleans. The Spanish developed burial system of present day proceeds by first placing the casket of the patron in an above ground tomb. Exactly 1 year and 1 day after burial, the tomb is opened and the casket removed. The body is next wrapped in a sheet and shoved to the back of the tomb with a ten foot pole where it falls off the shelf to the bottom. The weather of the area caused the remains to decompose quickly and tombs are subsequently reused for many burial. The expression, "I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole," is thought to have originated from this burial process.
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Submitted on September 01, 2009
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Find a translation for the not touch something with a ten foot pole phrase in other languages:
Berühren Sie nichts mit einer zehn Fuß Stange
दस फुट के खंभे से किसी चीज को न छुएं
10フィートのポールで何かに触れないでください
ikke røre noe med en ti fots stang
nie dotykać niczego dziesięciostopowym tyczkiem
用十英尺的杆子不要碰东西
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Nearby phrases
Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to not touch something with a ten foot pole
not the end of the worldnot that there's anything wrong with th…not the sharpest knife in the drawernot win for losingnot the brightest bulb in the chandeliernot worth a whistlenot to be able to say boo to a goosenot worth writing home aboutnot worth a hill of beansnot see straightnot to saynot verynot worth a brass farthingnot to worry
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"not touch something with a ten foot pole." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 16 May 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/not-touch-something-with-a-ten-foot-pole_5567>.
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