avoid like the plague

== English == === Etymology === From the deadliness of the plague and the need to avoid it. Commonly attributed to similar phrases in Latin used by the priest and theologian Saint Jerome (c. 347–420) in his letters, for example: === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /əˈvɔɪd laɪk ðə ˈpleɪɡ/ === Verb === avoid like the plague (third-person singular simple present avoids like the plague, present participle avoiding like the plague, simple past and past participle avoided like the plague) (simile) To evade or shun, if at all possible. ==== Translations ==== === References ===