pole

at opposite poles

At or holding two completely opposite positions, opinions, or viewpoints, as between two people or two groups of people. Refers to the North and South Pole, which lie diametrically opposite each other along the Earth's axis of rotation. The two parties of the government are at opposite poles on so many issues, it's a wonder anything is accomplished at all! Steve and I are just at opposite poles about the meaning of this poem.

not touch (someone or something) with a barge pole

To not want to become in any way involved in or with something or someone. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. Ever since the tax scandal in our last company, employers won't touch us with a barge pole. Get that cocaine away from me, I wouldn't touch that with a barge pole!

be up the pole

To be pregnant. You two have only been married for a couple of months, I can't believe you're up the pole already!

smoke pole

A handgun. After he pulled a smoke pole on me, I gave him all my money.

the longest pole knocks the persimmon

Success comes easily to those who have the best resources or means to obtain it. Primarily heard in US. Of course the daughter of a millionaire would get into that prestigious school. The longest pole knocks the persimmon, after all.

be in pole position

To be ideally positioned for success. The phrase comes from racing, in which the starting position at the inside of the front row (the "pole position") is thought to improve one's chance of winning. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. She is in pole position to win the scholarship, thanks to all of her extracurricular activities.

be poles apart

To be very different in behavior or views; to be in opposition. Unfortunately, the two sides are still poles apart in their negotiations. My sister and I are very close now, but we were poles apart growing up and fought all the time.

See also: apart, pole

high man on the totem pole

Fig. the person at the top of the hierarchy; the person in charge of an organization. I don't want to talk to a vice president. I demand to talk to the high man on the totem pole. Who's in charge around here? Who's high man on the totem pole?

I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole.

Cliché I would not have anything to do with it under any circumstances. (Said about something you think is untrustworthy, as in the first example, or in response to a remark that seems to invite a nasty reply, as in the second example. The British version is "I would not touch it with a bargepole.") Jill: This advertisement says I can buy land in Florida for a small investment. Do you think I should? Jane: I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole. Jane: Can you believe this? Jill said she thinks I'm bossy. You don't think I'm bossy, do you? Mary: I wouldn't touch that with a ten-foot pole.

low man on the totem pole

Fig. the least important or lowest-ranking person of a group. I was the last to find out because I'm low man on the totem pole. I can't be of any help. I'm low man on the totem pole.

not touch someone or something with a ten-foot pole

Cliché not to have anything to do with someone or something. (Always negative.) No, I won't hire Fred. I wouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole. I wouldn't touch that job with a ten-foot pole.

*poles apart

very different; far from coming to an agreement. (Alludes to the distance between the north and south poles. *Typically: be ~; become ~; grow ~.) Mr. and Mrs. Jones don't get along well. They are poles apart. They'll never sign the contract because they are poles apart.

See also: apart, pole

up the pole

Fig. intoxicated. You sound a little up the pole. Why don't you call back when you're sober? She's up the pole and shouldn't drive.

wouldn't touch someone or something with a ten-foot pole

Cliché would not be involved with something under any circumstances. I know about the piece of vacant land for sale on Maple Street. I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole because there used to be a gas station there and the soil is polluted. Tom said he wouldn't touch Sally with a ten-foot pole.

not touch something with a ten-foot pole

to not want to become involved with something If I were you, I wouldn't touch that job with a ten-foot pole.

Usage notes: often used as a warning

low on the totem pole

least important He's the low man on the totem pole here. AIDS deaths are low on the totem pole compared with cancer and heart disease.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of totem pole (a wooden pole with images of people and animals cut or painted on it)

the greasy pole

(British & Australian)

the attempt to improve your position at work His ascent up the greasy pole of academic advancement was remarkably quick.

the low man on the totem pole

(American)

someone who has the least important position in an organization He started as the low man on the totem pole and worked his way up to be manager.

See lay low, lie low

be in pole position

(British & Australian)

to be in the best position to win a competition

Usage notes: In motor racing, pole position is the best place a car can start from.

(often + to do sth) United are in pole position to win the championship this year.

be poles apart

if two people or things are poles apart, they are complete opposites My sister and I are poles apart in personality. Our political views are poles apart.

See also: apart, pole

I wouldn't touch somebody/something with a barge pole.

(British & Australian informal) also I wouldn't touch somebody/something with a ten-foot pole (American & Australian informal)

something that you say which means that you think someone or something is so bad that you do not want to be involved with them in any way If I were you, I wouldn't touch that property with a barge pole.

low man on the totem pole

Low in rank, least important person, as in I just joined the board so I'm low man on the totem pole. This slangy expression is thought to have been invented by the American comedian Fred Allen about 1940 and caught on despite its lack of application to a genuine totem pole.

not touch with a ten-foot pole

Stay far away from, avoid completely, as in Ronald wouldn't touch raw oysters with a ten-foot pole. This expression dates from the mid-1700s, when it began to replace the earlier not to be handled with a pair of tongs. In the 1800s barge-pole was sometimes substituted for ten-foot pole, but that variant has died out.

poles apart

In complete opposition, as in The two brothers were poles apart in nearly all their views. This expression alludes to the two extremities of the earth's axis, the North and South poles. [Early 1900s]

See also: apart, pole

half up the pole

mod. alcohol intoxicated; tipsy. She drank till she was half up the pole.

pole dancer

n. a woman, thought of as a stripper, who performs erotic dances around a metal pole, onstage, exploiting the pole’s phallic form. Jed swears that he has never seen an inept pole dancer.

pole dancing

n. sexually stimulating erotic dancing and writhing around a metal pole, onstage, before a largely male audience. I didn’t have the body for a career in pole dancing, so I became a house painter.

up the pole

mod. alcohol intoxicated. You sound a little up the pole. Why don’t you call back when you’re sober?

wouldn’t touch someone/something with a ten-foot pole

tv. would not get involved with someone or something. Forget it. I wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Hanna (2)	HAH-nah (German), HAN-nah (Danish), HAHN-nah (Finnish)	German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Dutch, Hungarian
Cassidy	['kæsidi]
ThaÍS	-	Portuguese (Brazilian)
Widogast	-	Ancient Germanic
SÉGolÈNe	-	French
Jalo	YAH-lo	Finnish