What is "Light years away"?

[Tom]

Hi

Could you please tell me the meaning and use of:

"Light years away"?

Thanks in advance

Yours

Tom

[Alan]

Hi Tom,

I think you mean: Light years away. It means far, far into the future. It comes from the idea of the time it takes for the light of a star to reach planet earth. You could say; The time when man stops fighting man is sadly still light years away.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Everything in the Garden is lovely

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

"Light years (away)" can also be used figuratively to talk about an extreme distance or difference between two things that have been compared.

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Tom]

Dear Amy

Would you mind if I asked you to give one example each?

Many, many thanks in advance

Tom

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

Off the top of my head, some figurative examples:

"Many experts say that researchers are still light-years away from a cure for AIDS."

"Their opinions are light-years apart."

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Tom]

Can't thank you enough!

PS: still awake

Must be 1:0' clock?

Tom

[Yankee]

Yes, Tom, but I'll be hitting the hay shortly.
It must be much later where you are.

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Tom]

[Yankee]

You have to get up at 6:30?! Get up from your chair is more like it, I guess.
Sounds like hitting the hay won't do you much good at this point.
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English