'I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole/ten-foot plole'?

[Mehrgan]

Hi all,
I'm very much interested to know which one is more used in BrE. If you could kindly help me with this! (I'd also be my pleasure to receive replies from dear Americans. Thanks in advance.)

 

[riquecohen]

I have only heard "ten-foot pole" used in AmE.

 

[SlickVic9000]

I prefer a thirty-nine and a half foot pole.

 

[Barb_D]

Ah, Vic, my heart grew three sizes reading that.

 

[emsr2d2]

I'd never heard "ten-foot pole" until a few years ago. Certainly, in my lifetime in the UK, I've heard and used "I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole".

 

[waflob]

The version I've most often heard used combines them into "... a 10 foot barge pole"

 

[bhaisahab]

I've heard both but "I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole" is more common in my experience.

 

[TheParser]

NOT A TEACHER


(1) I agree that Americans would say "a ten-foot pole."

(2) In fact, I doubt that many Americans have heard of "a barge pole" and would,

quite frankly, find it rather "funny sounding."

(3) More to the point, I doubt that this expression is used by the younger generation

or even by many "mature people" like me anymore.

(4) If we are afraid to discuss certain issues, I should guess that people say it in

other ways, such as: No, no, no! I'm not going to comment. That's a hot potato!

(And that expression is also rather dated.)

(5) Quite possibly, when we do not wish to discuss politically correct/incorrect

matters, people (especially politicians) simply say with a big smile "No comment"/

"I'm not touching that"/ "I'm not going there."