light year

année-lumière

Distance parcourue par la lumière en un an, servant à mesurer l’éloignement des étoiles et des galaxies.

En anglais simple : The distance that light travels in one year, used to measure how far away stars and galaxies are.

• That star is four light years away.
• Astronomers measure huge distances in light years.
• How many light years separate these two galaxies?

Expressions courantes : one light year, a light year away

fossé immense, distance énorme

Très grande distance ou différence, surtout dans la qualité ou le niveau de développement de deux choses.

En anglais simple : A very large distance or difference, especially between how good or advanced two things are.

• Their team is light years ahead of ours.
• The new camera is light years better than my old one.
• Her first draft was light years away from the finished book.

Comment l'utiliser : light years ahead of someone/something (Their technology is light years ahead of ours.); light years away from something (This plan is light years away from what we need.)

Expressions courantes : a light year ahead, a light year behind

éternité, siècles

Une durée très longue, exprimée avec une exagération volontaire.

En anglais simple : A very long period of time, used with deliberate exaggeration.

• That summer feels light years ago.
• A week in that job felt like a light year.
• By then, light years seemed to have passed since our last meeting.

Synonymes : age, eternity

Expressions courantes : a light year ago, a light year later