If we can't take them on, we can at least keep out of their way.
Tips
grammar
Verb-不起 is a common potential-complement pattern meaning 'can't afford to ___': 买不起 (can't afford to buy), 看不起 (look down on), 对不起 (can't face you = sorry). 惹不起 specifically = 'can't afford to provoke'.
culture
The proverb 惹不起，躲得起 ('if you can't take them on, you can dodge them') captures a classic Chinese coping strategy: avoid trouble rather than confront it.
