light year

anno luce

Distanza percorsa dalla luce in un anno, usata per misurare quanto sono lontane stelle e galassie.

In inglese semplice: 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?

Espressioni comuni: one light year, a light year away

abisso, distanza enorme

Una distanza o differenza enorme, soprattutto nella qualità o nel livello di sviluppo di due cose.

In inglese semplice: 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.

Come si usa: 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.)

Espressioni comuni: a light year ahead, a light year behind

eternità, secoli

Un periodo molto lungo, descritto con un’esagerazione voluta.

In inglese semplice: 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.

Sinonimi: age, eternity

Espressioni comuni: a light year ago, a light year later