country mile: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘country mile’ mean?
The idiom "country mile" means a very long distance or a significant difference. It originated from the idea that country areas are vast and distances are greater compared to urban areas.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "run a mile" means to quickly and eagerly avoid or distance oneself from a situation or person, often due to fear, discomfort, or a desire to avoid trouble or confrontation.
The idiom "every inch" means completely or in every possible way. It emphasizes the thoroughness or completeness of a person or thing.
The idiom "edge of the world" refers to a metaphorical location beyond which everything is unknown or uncharted. It signifies the limit or boundary of one's knowledge or experience.
The idiom "edge of the earth" is used to describe a feeling of being in a remote, isolated, or faraway place, as if one is at the very limit or furthest point of existence or civilization.
The idiom "down the road" means in the future or at a later time.
The idiom "donkey's years" means a very long time. It is often used to indicate a period of time that feels like it has been going on for a significant and extended duration.
An idiom that means two things or people are extremely dissimilar or opposite in nature.
The idiom "come a long way" means to have made significant progress or improvement, often referring to personal growth or development over time.
The idiom "by a long way" means to win or be better than all others by a large margin or distance.
Elusive Distance
The idiom "run a mile" is closely related to "country mile." While "country mile" refers to a long distance, "run a mile" is used to describe someone's desire to distance themselves from a situation or person as quickly as possible. Although the two phrases have different meanings, they both convey the idea of an extensive amount of distance or separation.
"by a long way" is another idiom that shares similarities with "country mile." Like "country mile," it signifies a substantial difference or margin. However, "by a long way" focuses more on the extent of superiority or advantage. It implies that a person or thing is significantly better or ahead of others in a particular aspect, surpassing expectations by a considerable degree.
Lastly, we have the idiom "come a long way," which emphasizes progress or improvement. While "country mile" relates to physical distance, "come a long way" speaks to personal or collective development. It indicates that someone or something has made significant strides in their journey, surpassing obstacles or limitations to reach a much-improved state.
"country mile" is an idiom that signifies a considerable distance or difference. It can be related to other idioms such as "run a mile," "by a long way," and "come a long way," as they all involve the notion of extensive measure, separation, or progress.
Example usage
Here are three examples of how the idiom country mile can be used in a sentence:
- She won the race by a country mile.
- The new restaurant is the best in town by a country mile.
- He outperformed his colleagues by a country mile.
The phrase country mile is often used to emphasize a significant distance or difference. It is typically used to describe a situation where one person or thing surpasses others by a large margin or extent. In the examples provided, the idiom is used in a literal sense to convey a clear and noticeable difference in the race, the quality of the restaurant, and the performance of an individual compared to others.
More "Distance" idioms
