a leap away

USAGE SUMMARY

"a leap away" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to something that is close in proximity. For example, "A playground was just a leap away from our house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Hers was a leap away from faith.

The New Yorker

Neighboring buildings are so close that a clothesline with men's underwear, deliberately or not, crossed over a corner of the terrace, and an adjacent fire escape was just a leap away.

The New York Times

So on this 20th anniversary of The Moscow Times, my wish is not only that my children will follow their passions and find jobs that they love, but that they will be ready, if the right opportunity arises, to take a leap away from security to try something thrilling.

Huffington Post

The minute you put pen to paper and write down a story it becomes a story and with each draft it takes a leap away from the truth of my life and it's no longer this thing that's happened to me, but this story I'm using to illustrate a larger point".

Huffington Post

But on the third try,��the chopper "wasn't much of a leap" away, and once the pilot saw Burke was on board, it banked away with the six-foot-three New Brunswick man hanging onto the outside and hovered at a distance far enough from the cliff and trees for Burke to climb into the cockpit before it flew off.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Still, that would amount to only about $400 a week, a long leap away from the average wage reported by the bureau.

The New York Times

The result, when the Maiyet brand showed during Paris Fashion Week in October, was a streamlined and sophisticated collection a giant leap away from the ethnic trail.

The New York Times

But Cargill created a new software package — which looks like a big leap away from selling seeds.

Harvard Business Review

Determined to get the ball rolling, Eyebeam, a nonprofit arts organization, has announced that Elizabeth Diller and Ricardo Scofidio, who make up a Manhattan architectural team known for avant-garde derring-do, have won the competition to design a $60 million institute for new-media technology that will make a giant leap away from brand-identity architecture.

The New York Times - Arts

Altogether it's an engaging enough programme, particularly the American works, but a quantum leap away from anything innovative in today's terms.

The Guardian

For Loyola's coaches and trainers, in an athletic department without football, it was less of a philosophical leap away from such weight room staples as bench presses and squats.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a leap away", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being measured—physical distance, progress toward a goal, or a metaphorical gap between two states.

Common error

Avoid using "a leap away" when describing abstract concepts that lack a quantifiable or relatable measure. It's more fitting for situations involving tangible progress or proximity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a leap away" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It indicates proximity, either physical or metaphorical, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a leap away" describes something that is easily within reach, either literally or figuratively. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable. The phrase appears more frequently in news and media sources, with a neutral to slightly informal tone. When using "a leap away", ensure the context supports the idea of a short distance or easily achievable goal. Avoid using it in highly formal or abstract settings where more precise language is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearby

Simple and direct way to express nearness.

a stone's throw

Describes something that is very close by, easily reachable.

just a hop away

Suggests the action is not a difficult one.

close at hand

Indicates nearness, either in time or space.

within striking distance

Indicates something is close enough to be attacked or reached.

within reach

Implies something can be attained or accessed without much difficulty.

easily accessible

Highlights the ease of reaching or obtaining something.

just around the corner

Suggests something is imminent or very near.

in the vicinity

Refers to the surrounding area or neighborhood.

in close proximity

Formal way of saying something is nearby.

FAQs

How can I use "a leap away" in a sentence?

You can use "a leap away" to describe something that is close in proximity, for example: "The adjacent fire escape was just "a leap away"".

What does "a leap away" imply about the distance?

It implies that something is within a relatively short distance, whether literally or figuratively. It suggests it can be reached or achieved with little effort.

Are there formal alternatives to "a leap away"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "close at hand" or "in close proximity", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "a leap away" metaphorically?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize that a goal or achievement is very close to being realized, for example: "Success is just "a leap away" if we continue our efforts".