English Reference
Idiom idiom

a long time ago


This means something happened many years or centuries in the past.


SIMPLE

“I lived in that city a long time ago.”

CONTEXTUAL

“My grandfather told me stories about his childhood, which happened a long time ago.”

COMPLEX

“The ancient ruins stood as a silent reminder of a civilization that flourished a long time ago, long before modern cities existed.”

Last updated April 22, 2026