English Idiom – A stone’s throw.

Meaning – A short distance away from something. Not very far. This idiom is usually used to emphasize how close two places or objects are in relation to each other.

If something is a stone’s throw away the presumption is that you could throw a stone and hit it. In reality the actual meaning of this expression is suggesting that something is close, but the actual distance is relative to the context.

Usage:

When could you use this idiom?

  • A friend is buying a house that is close to yours.
  • Somebody is getting tired of walking but you have nearly reached your destination.
  • You are describing how close your location is to something.
  • You are suggesting a local restaurant for dinner but your friend is being lazy, and refusing to walk!

Example:

  • “Have you seen Robert’s humongous new house? It’s a stone’s throw from Wembley stadium!”

In The News:

D-Day clicker tracked down ‘stone’s throw’ from factory

Discuss:

  • Is there an idiom like this in your country?

What is an idiom?

An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally.  An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.

What is FunkyEnglish?

FunkyEnglish is a website that helps you improve your English. We offer quick lessons that teach idiomsslangphrasal verbs and more. Visit our homepage to see our latest articles, or use the menu to find specific content!