a far cry
Preserved but no longer current.
A long way; a very considerable distance; used both of space and of time, as, "it is a far cry from David to Disraeli," but they both were Jews, "it's a far cry from Clapham to Kamschatka." Sir Walter Scott several times uses the phrase, "It's a far cry to Lochow (Lochawe)," and he tells us that this was a proverbial expression among the Campbells, meaning that their ancient hereditary dominions lay beyond the reach of an invading enemy.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “a far cry” mean?
A long way; a very considerable distance; used both of space and of time, as, "it is a far cry from David to Disraeli," but they both were Jews, "it's a far cry from Clapham to Kamschatka." Sir Walter Scott several times uses the phrase, "It's a far cry to Lochow (Lochawe)," and he tells us that this was a proverbial expression among the Campbells, meaning that their ancient hereditary dominions lay beyond the reach of an invading enemy.
Is “a far cry” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.