avoid like the plague

Etymology
From the deadliness of the and the need to avoid it. Commonly attributed to similar phrases in Latin used by the priest and theologian Saint Jerome (–420) in his letters, for example:
 * "la"

- His igitur quasi quibusdam pestibus exterminatis veniamus ad eos,


 * "la"

- [N]egotiatorem clericum et ex inope divitem et ex ignobili gloriosum quasi quandem pestem fuge

Verb

 * 1)  To evade or shun, if at all possible.

Translations

 * Czech: vyhýbat se něčemu jako moru
 * Danish: sky som pesten
 * Finnish: välttää kuin ruttoa
 * French:
 * Galician: evitar como a praga
 * German: wie die Pest meiden; wie der Teufel das Weihwasser meiden
 * Greek: αποφεύγω σαν την πανούκλα
 * Italian: evitare come la peste
 * Norwegian: sky som pesten
 * Polish:
 * Portuguese: evitar como uma praga
 * Romanian: fugi ca dracul de tămâie
 * Russian: бежа́ть, как чёрт от ла́дана, обходи́ть за версту́
 * Spanish: evitar como la peste
 * Swedish: sky som pesten
 * Ukrainian: утікати, як чорт від ладану