A distant cry from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "A distant cry from" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is far removed from a particular situation, feeling, or expectation. Example: "The final product was a distant cry from the original concept we had envisioned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It was a distant cry from his more solitary early years.

The Guardian

Today's tech industry has its share of titans, but at an average 17 price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, these giant's valuations fall within the current market norms and are a distant cry from the 70 P/E characterizing the bubble.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's a far cry from Beverly Hills.

The Guardian - Books

It is all a distant cry from when he wrapped a friend's Mercedes around a lamppost while drunk, uninsured and disqualified.

Independent

Here, one day, is a distraught man who describes how, while helping to dig in search of the living, he heard the distant cry of a little girl.

The New York Times

A rustle in the bushes, the wind in the leaves, a distant animal cry.

The Guardian - Travel

Or Masayuki Koga's The Distant Cry Of Deer?

Vice

A distant siren cried.

The New Yorker

SIR Re "Distant cries" {Fact and Comment, Dec. 16, 1996}.

Forbes

Mohammed Saud looks like a distant cousin from an Ernest P Worrell film.

Vice

"How much data?" asks a distant, data-hungry cry.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "A distant cry from" to effectively highlight a stark contrast or difference between two situations, ideas, or objects. This phrase works best when emphasizing how far something has deviated from an earlier state or expectation.

Common error

Avoid using "A distant cry from" when a subtle difference exists. This phrase is designed to illustrate major, recognizable divergence, not minor variations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "A distant cry from" functions as an idiomatic expression to denote a significant difference or contrast between two things. It emphasizes that the latter situation or thing is substantially different from the former. Ludwig's examples illustrate this usage, highlighting a noticeable divergence.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "A distant cry from" is an idiomatic expression used to emphasize a significant difference or contrast between two things. While Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, its frequency is relatively rare. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts. To enhance clarity, it's best to reserve it for situations where there's a substantial divergence, and be mindful that "a far cry from" serves as a more common alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A far cry from

A more common and direct synonym, indicating a significant difference.

Worlds apart from

Emphasizes the extreme difference or separation between two things.

Entirely different from

Stresses the complete dissimilarity between two things.

A different world than

Implies a vast difference, almost to the point of being incomparable.

Nothing like

Highlights the absence of similarity between two things.

Bear little resemblance to

Formally states that two things are dissimilar.

Miles away from

Suggests a great distance, both literally and figuratively, indicating a significant difference.

A departure from

Highlights that is a deviation or shift from something.

Unrelated to

It emphasizes the lack of connection between two or more items

At odds with

Focuses on direct contrast and opposition.

FAQs

What does it mean to say something is "a distant cry from" something else?

Saying something is "a distant cry from" something else means it is very different from it, often unexpectedly or surprisingly so. It indicates a significant change or evolution has occurred.

Is "a distant cry from" interchangeable with "a far cry from"?

Yes, "a distant cry from" and "a far cry from" are largely interchangeable. Both phrases are idioms used to emphasize a stark difference. "A far cry from" is more commonly used.

Can you use "a distant cry from" to describe something positive?

Yes, "a distant cry from" can describe something positive or negative, depending on the context. It simply highlights a large difference. For example, "His current success is a distant cry from his early struggles".

What are some alternatives to "a distant cry from"?

Alternatives to "a distant cry from" include "worlds apart from", "nothing like", or "entirely different from". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.