country mile
English edit
Etymology edit
Due to the winding, twisty nature of country roads, a country mile appears to take much longer to travel than a mile in the city, where roads are straighter. (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
country mile (plural country miles)
- (informal) A long way, a great distance.
- by a country mile
- 2000, Steve Holt, A Day at the Ballpark, Xlibris, page 13:
- I liked to imagine that my father had been a pretty fair country ballplayer who didn't pay attention to his batting average but could hit the ball a country mile and run like the wind.
- 2023 April 5, Pip Dunn, “'196s' giving commuters a smoother ride”, in RAIL, number 980, page 57:
- But the passengers we spoke to seemed very happy with the trains - and yes, they are an improvement on the Class 170 by a country mile.