Definition & Meaning of "light years away"

light years away

a distant moment or period in the future or past that is often marked by significant technological, cultural, or historical changes

Idiom

Informal

What is the origin of the idiom "light years away" and when to use it?

The idiom "light years away" is an idiomatic expression that refers to a significant or vast distance, often used metaphorically to describe something that is far beyond reach or extremely distant in terms of progress, understanding, or comparison. It emphasizes a considerable gap or difference, typically in a non-literal sense. It is often used in discussions about technology, progress, knowledge, or cultural understanding.

a vast difference between two things, often indicating that they are significantly distant or dissimilar in terms of progress, quality, or understanding

Idiom

What is the origin of the idiom "light years away" and when to use it?

The idiom "light years away" originates from the field of astronomy and astrophysics, where a "light-year" is used as a unit of measurement for astronomical distances. It represents the distance that light travels in one year, approximately 5.88 trillion miles. However, in everyday language, the idiom has evolved figuratively to convey a significant difference or vast distance between two things, concepts, or points of comparison, unrelated to actual astronomical distances. It is now commonly used in conversations, discussions, or writing when people want to highlight the vastness of the contrast between two elements.

Example

The next total solar eclipse visible from this location is light years away, not occurring for another century.

The technology used in their new smartphone is light years away from the outdated model I have.

Reflecting on the first moon landing, it seems like it happened light years away in time, though it was just over 50 years ago.

The quality of their customer service is light years away from what we experienced with the previous company.

Predicting what life will be like for future generations, say, a thousand years from now, can feel like speculating about a time light years away from our own.