barge pole

[Leapers]

I heard on a film someone say "i would touch her with a barge pole"

Firstly... what is a barge pole?

secondly.. how long is a barge pole?

thanks

[minimonkey]

the phrase is i wouldn't touch her/him with a barge pole - and it is a pole that is used to push barges along...a bit like punting i guess...therefore its long!!

[Leapers]

Oh right thanks mimimonkey my mum said it was something to do with boats but i thougth it was something for controlling cows!

thanks

[andy-hughes]

Here's an explanation -

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/wouldnt-tou ch-with-a-barge-pole.html

[Clanad]

Here in the semi-arid western U.S. with narry a loch, canal or millpond in sight, we've shortened the saying to "... a ten foot pole..."

[jno]

Clanad, as I recall someone described the vertically-challenged film director (and alleged child molester) Roman Polanski as 'the original five-foot Pole you wouldn't touch someone with.'

[jno]

oh, also... barge poles can get all sorts of slime over the far end as that's part of the job - so the implication is that the person you wouldn't touch is even slimier than the bottom of a canal.

[squarebear]

... and the insult, "You are so ugly, you have marks on you from where people been touching you with the 10-foot barge pole." :-)

[MalcolmY]

A variation on the 5ft / 10ft bargepole saying is "I wouldn't touch him / her / it with the thick end of Acker Bilk's flute". (I know, I know!)