be-light-years-ahead
/biː ˌlaɪt jɪəz əˈhɛd/ IELTSAcademic
idiom
To be much better, more advanced, or far in front of someone or something. It often suggests a large gap in skill, speed, quality, or progress.
- Their new app is light years ahead of ours.
- She is light years ahead in maths.
- This model is light years ahead of the old one.
Adinary Nuance
Use be light years ahead when the difference is very large and easy to notice. It is stronger than better, ahead, or more advanced. People often use it in speech, reviews, and comparisons to stress a big lead. It can sound informal, so it is less common in careful academic writing.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- vượt xa
- Spanish
- muy por delante
- Chinese
- 领先很多
- Japanese
- はるかに先
- Korean
- 훨씬 앞서
Etymology
This phrase uses the idea of a light-year, a very large distance in space. It became common in English in the 20th century as a strong way to show a huge gap.
Common phrases
light years ahead ofway ahead offar ahead of the competitionlight years ahead in
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'be light years ahead' formal or informal?
- It is more informal than formal. You can use it in speech, reviews, and everyday comparisons.
- What is the difference between 'light years ahead' and 'far ahead'?
- 'Light years ahead' is stronger and more dramatic. 'Far ahead' is simpler and less emphatic.
- Can I use it in academic writing?
- Usually, no. It sounds too conversational for most academic writing.
- Does it mean only time, because of 'light-year'?
- No. In this phrase, it means a very large distance in progress or quality.