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I think there's an idiom in English that could imply "the more away you are from a friend, the better you can keep that friendship", because there's a risk of quarreling or even fighting when you're in contact with someone for a long time. Does anyone know what the idiom is?
thank you
Shabani.
Do you mean, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder"?
This saying usually refers to the way our attachment to somebody is strengthened when we realize how much we miss them when separated. But it is sometimes used in the sense you describe, the idea that friends are less likely to quarrel or annoy each other over a long distance.
not a teacher
Quote:
Originally Posted by shabani
***** NOT A TEACHER *****
(1) I do not know if this is the correct one, but:
"Familiarity breeds contempt."
(a) That is, the more you know someone, the less hesitant you are to
criticize him/her, etc. Because the more you know someone, you are
bound to lose some respect when you discover his/her weak points.
(i) For example, we are often more respectful of strangers than we are
of our own family members. We are "afraid" of strangers, but we feel
comfortable with our family, so we say and do things that we would never
say or do with strangers.
(ii) For example, that is why some people feel that leaders should
keep their distance from the people. If the people ever realized that
their leaders are just human beings like everyone else, then the people
would lost respect (and fear) of the leaders.
(iii) For example, in the armed forces the officers can't get too
friendly with the ordinary soldiers. Otherwise, the ordinary soldiers
might want to argue about the officers' orders.
(iv) For example, that is why there are often separate restrooms
(toilets) for different levels of employees.
(v) For example, that is why some people insist on being addressed
formally: Good morning, Mr./ Miss/ Dr./ etc. When people are on a
first-name basis, they, of course, tend to forget that their positions
may not be equal.
I think TheParser's idiom suits the OP's description best, but I'll add one more: "distance lends enchantment".
Thank you all,
I think theParser's answer is the closest one.