# far cry

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/far-cry
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A long distance, in terms of dissimilarity or difference.

## Examples

- This small apartment is a far cry from my old house.
- This cold, rainy weather is a far cry from the sunny forecast.
- The new manager's polite style is a far cry from the way the previous boss treated the staff.
- The cheap plastic toy I received is a far cry from the high-quality product shown in the online advertisement.
- Winning only two games all season was a far cry from what the team expected after their expensive summer signings.
- The quiet, peaceful life he leads in the countryside is a far cry from the frantic, high-pressure career he left behind in the city.

## Origin

The term originates as an allusion to the practice of dispatching messengers or criers throughout the territory of a Scottish clan. In a highland context, the distance was measured by the range at which a shout or summons could be conveyed to gather the kinsmen. A cry that failed to reach its mark indicated a distance of significant magnitude, and the phrase persists as a measurement of such an interval.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.