fɑr kraɪ frɑm
General
neutral
intermediate
- Literally:
- A cry that is far away
What does "far cry from" mean?
- Very different from something
- A great contrast or distance from something else
Examples
- This restaurant is a far cry from the fast food we usually eat.
- His new apartment is a far cry from his old place.
- Today's technology is a far cry from what we had a decade ago.
Origin
Originally meant a great distance—how far a cry or shout could be heard. By the 19th century, it came to mean a great difference or contrast between things.
How to use it
Usually emphasizes improvement or decline. Common when making comparisons to show significant change.
Similar expressions
very different from
nothing like
miles away from
Opposites
similar to
close to
Related idioms
- actions speak louder than words
What people do is more important than what they say
- better safe than sorry
It's better to be careful and prevent problems than to take risks
- so far so good
Things have gone well up to now
- easier said than done
Something is more difficult to do than to talk about
- make a long story short
To summarize or get to the point
- to make matters worse
In addition to existing problems
Use it in a practice answer
Try "far cry from" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.