ENGLISH
REFERENCE

a long way

fixed phr..
A2 Elementary Oxford

fixed phr.. A great distance. You can also use this phrase to talk about making a lot of progress toward a goal.

fixed phr.. A noun phrase functioning adverbially to indicate a significant spatial, temporal, or metaphorical distance.


SIMPLE

The next town is a long way from here.

CONTEXTUAL

She has come a long way since she started learning the piano just last year.

COMPLEX

Although medical science has come a long way, there is still a long way to go before we find a cure for the common cold.

Usage

Often used with 'from' to specify a starting point, or with verbs of progress like 'come' or 'go'.

Teaching tip

Contrast the literal meaning of distance ('a long way from home') with the metaphorical meaning of progress ('we've come a long way').

Pitfall

The school is long way from my house.The school is a long way from my house.The indefinite article 'a' is a required part of this fixed phrase.

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