# streets behind

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/streets-behind
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Far inferior, much lesser.

## Examples

- My old phone is streets behind this new model.
- The new restaurant is popular, but the service is streets behind what we expected.
- While the company's latest software update shows promise, its user interface remains streets behind the industry standard, frustrating many long-term customers.

## Origin

The term was coined as a direct lexical opposite to the established idiom *streets ahead*. No specific date of origin or primary author is recorded for the formation.

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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.