English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Nowhere near
Meaning
The idiom "nowhere near" is used to indicate that someone or something is very far away from a particular location or situation. It is a figurative expression that doesn't literally mean what it says, but rather it conveys a sense of distance or separation.
The literal meaning of the idiom "nowhere near" is that someone or something is not even close to being at a particular location or situation. Figuratively, it means that someone or something is very far away from what they are describing. For example, if someone says "He's nowhere near qualified for the job," it means that the person in question lacks the necessary skills or experience to perform the task required for the job.
Usage
- The nearest grocery store is three blocks away, but it's still too far for me to walk with my groceries.
- My car broke down and I had to call a tow truck. It was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be.
- She's nowhere near finished with her project yet, but she claims to have been working on it all day.
- He's nowhere near as good at playing the guitar as his brother is.
- The concert was nowhere near as exciting as I had hoped it would be.
Roots and History
The idiom "nowhere near" has its origins in the literal meaning of being physically far away from a location. It has been used figuratively since at least the early 20th century, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The idiom may have evolved from other expressions such as "not even close" or "far off." There are no significant regional variations in the usage of this idiom.
Synonyms in English
- Extremely far away
- Very distant
- Completely unrelated
- Far removed
- Unconnected
Synonyms in other languages
- 遠離的 (Chinese) - This expression means "far from" and is commonly used to describe a physical distance between two things.
- מסורה (Hebrew) - This word translates to "forbidden," and is often used to describe something that is extremely distant or unrelated.
- נישט געזום (Yiddish) - This expression means "not at all" and can be used to indicate a complete lack of connection between two things.
- התנשטן (Hebrew) - This word translates to "distant," and is often used to describe a physical or metaphorical distance between two things.
- כיון מסורה (Yiddish) - This expression means "far from the light," and is often used to describe something that is very distant or unrelated.