How to Say ‘Keep your distance.’ in German
Besser Abstand halten.
BESS-er AHP-shtaand HAL-ten
[BESS-er AHP-shtaand HAL-ten]
Phrase Breakdown
Besser
[BESS-er]
better
Used to suggest the wiser option. In flirting it can sound mock-serious and teasing.
Besser lächeln als zu viele schlechte Sprüche machen.
Better to smile than make too many bad lines.
Abstand
[AHP-shtaand]
distance / space
Means physical or emotional distance. In flirting, 'Abstand halten' is often playful exaggeration.
Abstand zu halten ist schwer, wenn die Stimmung so gut ist.
Keeping distance is hard when the mood is this good.
halten
[HAL-ten]
to keep / hold
Verb meaning 'to hold' or 'to keep.' With 'Abstand' it forms the phrase 'keep your distance.'
So ein Lächeln kann einen kaum davon abhalten, Blickkontakt zu halten.
A smile like that can hardly stop someone from maintaining eye contact.
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