make-a-quantum-leap
/meɪk ə ˈkwɒn.təm liːp/ IELTSAcademic
phrase
To make a very large and sudden improvement or advance. People use it for progress in study, work, science, or personal growth.
- Her English skills made a quantum leap after six months.
- The company made a quantum leap in sales last year.
Adinary Nuance
Make a quantum leap is stronger than improve or advance. It suggests a sudden, dramatic change, not a slow one. Writers use it when the progress feels unusually large, like a breakthrough. It is more dramatic than make progress or take a big step.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- bước tiến vượt bậc
- Spanish
- avance enorme
- Chinese
- 飞跃
- Japanese
- 飛躍
- Korean
- 비약
Etymology
This phrase uses quantum from physics, where a quantum jump is a sudden change between energy levels. It became common in English in the late 20th century as a metaphor for big progress.
Common phrases
make a quantum leapa quantum leap in progressa quantum leap forward
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is make a quantum leap formal or informal?
- It is neutral to fairly formal. It fits business, academic, and news writing well.
- What is the difference between make a quantum leap and improve?
- Improve is general and can be small. Make a quantum leap means a sudden, major improvement.
- Can I use make a quantum leap in IELTS writing?
- Yes. It is useful when you want to describe a dramatic rise or breakthrough.