come a long way

/kˈʌm ɐ lˈɒŋ wˈeɪ/

/kˈʌm ɐ lˈɑːŋ wˈeɪ/

[phrase]

to come a long way

[PHRASE]

to have achieved great success or made great progress

to [come] a long way definition and meaning

What is the origin of the idiom "come a long way" and when to use it?

The idiom "come a long way" is thought to have originated in the 19th century. It is believed to be a reference to the fact that people used to travel long distances by horse and carriage. The phrase "come a long way" was used to describe someone who had traveled a great distance, and it has since come to mean someone who has achieved great success or made great progress.

Examples

1. I've come a long way since I started this job.

2. She came a long way from being a poor child to becoming a successful businesswoman.

3. She's come a long way from when she first started in the industry.

4. Florida's economy has come a long way over the past 50 years.

Nearby words

come apart at the seams

come back

come by