miles away—
1. (hyperbolic) very far away:
- He trudges across an icy parking lot, toting skis slung over his shoulder. The nearest ski lift seems miles away.
2. not in reach or not readily attainable:
- Such a prospect is miles away from the school world implied by the proceedings at the recent education “summit.”
3. said of smb. unaware of what is happening around because one is thinking of smth. else:
- Her mother was pacing up and down and seemed miles away. She hadn’t noticed them at all.
4. said of smth. that can be noticed or recognized even though it may not be obvious:
- In a sea of voices, his is the one you’ll spot miles away!
miles off—(of a guess, calculation, etc.) completely wrong (also: miles out):
- Ken Beaton’s original estimate of the elephant, buffalo and hippo population had been miles off.