ENGLISH
REFERENCE

over there

prep. phr..
A1 Beginner Oxford

prep. phr.. In a place that is not near you, but that you can often see or point to.

prep. phr.. An adverbial phrase of place indicating a location at some distance from the speaker, often within their line of sight.


SIMPLE

The bathroom is just over there.

CONTEXTUAL

If you're looking for the station, it's over there, across the main road.

COMPLEX

He gestured vaguely towards the distant lights and murmured, 'The city I remember is somewhere over there.'

Usage

This phrase is often accompanied by a gesture, like pointing, to indicate direction.

Teaching tip

Contrast 'here' (close to the speaker), 'there' (at a distance), and 'over there' (at a distance, but more specific and often visible).

Pitfall

The shop is at over there.The shop is over there.The phrase 'over there' already includes the idea of location, so it doesn't need another preposition like 'at' or 'in'.

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