One hand apart.

[tufguy]

"You all need to stand one hand apart from each other."

Please check.

 

[tedmc]

You can stand at arm's length apart - this is the closest I can think of.

 

[SoothingDave]

It's not natural. A "hand" is a unit of measure used primarily for the height of horses. It is equal to 4 inches, or a little over 10 cm.

 

[VivekR]

"You all need to stand at a hand's length apart from each other."

Is this acceptable?

 

[Tdol]

A hand's breadth would work better for me, though it lacks precision.

 

[Skrej]

"You all need to stand at a hand's length apart from each other."

Is this acceptable?

It sounds a little unnatural, because it's so close for people standing together. An arm's length apart is commonly used in that situation.

I'd prefer to use 'a hand's length/width' for aligning smaller items. For even smaller items, you might use a 'finger's width' apart. Note that a hand's width will be less than a hand's length. The average human hand is about twice as long as it is wide.

Please line the jars up a hand's width apart.
Make sure the headset microphone is about two finger widths from your lips.

 

[GoesStation]

Please pour me two fingers of bourbon.

 

[tufguy]

It sounds a little unnatural, because it's so close for people standing together. An arm's length apart is commonly used in that situation.

I'd prefer to use 'a hand's length/width' for aligning smaller items. For even smaller items, you might use a 'finger's width' apart. Note that a hand's width will be less than a hand's length. The average human hand is about twice as long as it is wide.

Please line the jars up a hand's width apart.
Make sure the headset microphone is about two finger widths from your lips.

"You all need to stand an arm's length apart from each other."

Is it correct?

 

[tufguy]

It's correct but no more natural than the sentence with 'breadth'.

"You all need to stand an arm's breadth apart from each other."

 

[GoesStation]

"You all need to stand an arm's breadth apart from each other."

Breadth means "width". I think you mean an arm's length apart. I don't find that phrase unnatural.

 

[SoothingDave]

Please pour me two fingers of bourbon.

Neat, or on the rocks?

 

[GoesStation]

Neat, or on the rocks?

Neat, please.

Sorry for hijacking your thread, Tufguy. Let me explain that a finger of bourbon is enough whiskey to fill a small glass to the width of a finger. That's obviously approximate but it corresponds to around one US fluid ounce or thirty ML.

Neat, or "straight up", is without water or ice. On the rocks is the same quantity poured over ice cubes.