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What does “not for ages yet†mean in this context?
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A: "When's your holiday?"
B: "Oh, not for ages yet."
I've seen this example in the dictionary on my phone -- under the definition of the word 'yet'. But I don't quite understand the phrase "not for ages yet" in this context. What does it mean?
phrase-meaning
asked 1 hour ago
dan
2,97021951
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A: "When's your holiday?"
B: "Oh, not for ages yet."
I've seen this example in the dictionary on my phone -- under the definition of the word 'yet'. But I don't quite understand the phrase "not for ages yet" in this context. What does it mean?
phrase-meaning
asked 1 hour ago
dan
2,97021951
2
It means, “not (for ages) yetâ€Â, that is it will take ages before I can go on holidays. Not yet is used to describe that something is expected to happen but has not for the moment.
– user070221
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
A: "When's your holiday?"
B: "Oh, not for ages yet."
I've seen this example in the dictionary on my phone -- under the definition of the word 'yet'. But I don't quite understand the phrase "not for ages yet" in this context. What does it mean?
phrase-meaning
asked 1 hour ago
dan
2,97021951
A: "When's your holiday?"
B: "Oh, not for ages yet."
I've seen this example in the dictionary on my phone -- under the definition of the word 'yet'. But I don't quite understand the phrase "not for ages yet" in this context. What does it mean?
phrase-meaning
phrase-meaning
asked 1 hour ago
dan
2,97021951
asked 1 hour ago
dan
2,97021951
asked 1 hour ago
dan
2,97021951
asked 1 hour ago
dan
2,97021951
asked 1 hour ago
dan
2,97021951
2,97021951
2
It means, “not (for ages) yetâ€Â, that is it will take ages before I can go on holidays. Not yet is used to describe that something is expected to happen but has not for the moment.
– user070221
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
2
It means, “not (for ages) yetâ€Â, that is it will take ages before I can go on holidays. Not yet is used to describe that something is expected to happen but has not for the moment.
– user070221
1 hour ago
2
2
It means, “not (for ages) yetâ€Â, that is it will take ages before I can go on holidays. Not yet is used to describe that something is expected to happen but has not for the moment.
– user070221
1 hour ago
It means, “not (for ages) yetâ€Â, that is it will take ages before I can go on holidays. Not yet is used to describe that something is expected to happen but has not for the moment.
– user070221
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
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Ages is used here as a colloquial term for "a long time". It's derived in this case from the meaning of "a distinct period in history", and it's used to indicate that there's no need to worry about the exact time. So, in your example:
When's your holiday?
Oh, not for ages yet
...means that while a holiday is planned, it's a considerable time off, probably several months - long enough that it does not need to factor into your current planning. Similarly...
When do you need to leave to catch the bus?
Oh, not for ages yet
...means that you have plenty of time to do whatever it is you're talking about. In this context, that could mean several hours or several minutes; it's entirely context-dependent.
answered 1 hour ago
Werrf
2,924713
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It is idiomatic, perhaps a combination of two expressions "not yet" and "not for ages".
"Ages" just means a long, unspecified length of time. Saying something is not happening "for ages" implies that it is a long way off in the future.
"Not yet" by itself means something is not happening now. Of course, if someone asks when you are going on holiday, it is quite obvious it is not happening now (you wouldn't be there to ask!)
I would say that the expression "Not for ages yet" combines elements of both of the above - that the holiday is so far off in the future that it isn't worth specifying the time at this time.
answered 1 hour ago
Astralbee
8,504533
Yes, but for ages is also used a lot with the present: I haven't seen them for ages. i.e. for a long time.
– Lambie
1 hour ago
@Lambie In this context, it is the future. The tense is set by the verb "happening". In your example "seen" is the verb and is past tense.
– Astralbee
1 hour ago
Where did I say it was not the future? Hmm?
– Lambie
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
Ages is used here as a colloquial term for "a long time". It's derived in this case from the meaning of "a distinct period in history", and it's used to indicate that there's no need to worry about the exact time. So, in your example:
When's your holiday?
Oh, not for ages yet
...means that while a holiday is planned, it's a considerable time off, probably several months - long enough that it does not need to factor into your current planning. Similarly...
When do you need to leave to catch the bus?
Oh, not for ages yet
...means that you have plenty of time to do whatever it is you're talking about. In this context, that could mean several hours or several minutes; it's entirely context-dependent.
answered 1 hour ago
Werrf
2,924713
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
Ages is used here as a colloquial term for "a long time". It's derived in this case from the meaning of "a distinct period in history", and it's used to indicate that there's no need to worry about the exact time. So, in your example:
When's your holiday?
Oh, not for ages yet
...means that while a holiday is planned, it's a considerable time off, probably several months - long enough that it does not need to factor into your current planning. Similarly...
When do you need to leave to catch the bus?
Oh, not for ages yet
...means that you have plenty of time to do whatever it is you're talking about. In this context, that could mean several hours or several minutes; it's entirely context-dependent.
answered 1 hour ago
Werrf
2,924713
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
Ages is used here as a colloquial term for "a long time". It's derived in this case from the meaning of "a distinct period in history", and it's used to indicate that there's no need to worry about the exact time. So, in your example:
When's your holiday?
Oh, not for ages yet
...means that while a holiday is planned, it's a considerable time off, probably several months - long enough that it does not need to factor into your current planning. Similarly...
When do you need to leave to catch the bus?
Oh, not for ages yet
...means that you have plenty of time to do whatever it is you're talking about. In this context, that could mean several hours or several minutes; it's entirely context-dependent.
answered 1 hour ago
Werrf
2,924713
Ages is used here as a colloquial term for "a long time". It's derived in this case from the meaning of "a distinct period in history", and it's used to indicate that there's no need to worry about the exact time. So, in your example:
When's your holiday?
Oh, not for ages yet
...means that while a holiday is planned, it's a considerable time off, probably several months - long enough that it does not need to factor into your current planning. Similarly...
When do you need to leave to catch the bus?
Oh, not for ages yet
...means that you have plenty of time to do whatever it is you're talking about. In this context, that could mean several hours or several minutes; it's entirely context-dependent.
answered 1 hour ago
Werrf
2,924713
answered 1 hour ago
Werrf
2,924713
answered 1 hour ago
Werrf
2,924713
answered 1 hour ago
Werrf
2,924713
2,924713
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
It is idiomatic, perhaps a combination of two expressions "not yet" and "not for ages".
"Ages" just means a long, unspecified length of time. Saying something is not happening "for ages" implies that it is a long way off in the future.
"Not yet" by itself means something is not happening now. Of course, if someone asks when you are going on holiday, it is quite obvious it is not happening now (you wouldn't be there to ask!)
I would say that the expression "Not for ages yet" combines elements of both of the above - that the holiday is so far off in the future that it isn't worth specifying the time at this time.
answered 1 hour ago
Astralbee
8,504533
Yes, but for ages is also used a lot with the present: I haven't seen them for ages. i.e. for a long time.
– Lambie
1 hour ago
@Lambie In this context, it is the future. The tense is set by the verb "happening". In your example "seen" is the verb and is past tense.
– Astralbee
1 hour ago
Where did I say it was not the future? Hmm?
– Lambie
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
It is idiomatic, perhaps a combination of two expressions "not yet" and "not for ages".
"Ages" just means a long, unspecified length of time. Saying something is not happening "for ages" implies that it is a long way off in the future.
"Not yet" by itself means something is not happening now. Of course, if someone asks when you are going on holiday, it is quite obvious it is not happening now (you wouldn't be there to ask!)
I would say that the expression "Not for ages yet" combines elements of both of the above - that the holiday is so far off in the future that it isn't worth specifying the time at this time.
answered 1 hour ago
Astralbee
8,504533
Yes, but for ages is also used a lot with the present: I haven't seen them for ages. i.e. for a long time.
– Lambie
1 hour ago
@Lambie In this context, it is the future. The tense is set by the verb "happening". In your example "seen" is the verb and is past tense.
– Astralbee
1 hour ago
Where did I say it was not the future? Hmm?
– Lambie
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
It is idiomatic, perhaps a combination of two expressions "not yet" and "not for ages".
"Ages" just means a long, unspecified length of time. Saying something is not happening "for ages" implies that it is a long way off in the future.
"Not yet" by itself means something is not happening now. Of course, if someone asks when you are going on holiday, it is quite obvious it is not happening now (you wouldn't be there to ask!)
I would say that the expression "Not for ages yet" combines elements of both of the above - that the holiday is so far off in the future that it isn't worth specifying the time at this time.
answered 1 hour ago
Astralbee
8,504533
It is idiomatic, perhaps a combination of two expressions "not yet" and "not for ages".
"Ages" just means a long, unspecified length of time. Saying something is not happening "for ages" implies that it is a long way off in the future.
"Not yet" by itself means something is not happening now. Of course, if someone asks when you are going on holiday, it is quite obvious it is not happening now (you wouldn't be there to ask!)
I would say that the expression "Not for ages yet" combines elements of both of the above - that the holiday is so far off in the future that it isn't worth specifying the time at this time.
answered 1 hour ago
Astralbee
8,504533
edited 1 hour ago
answered 1 hour ago
Astralbee
8,504533
answered 1 hour ago
Astralbee
8,504533
answered 1 hour ago
Astralbee
8,504533
8,504533
Yes, but for ages is also used a lot with the present: I haven't seen them for ages. i.e. for a long time.
– Lambie
1 hour ago
@Lambie In this context, it is the future. The tense is set by the verb "happening". In your example "seen" is the verb and is past tense.
– Astralbee
1 hour ago
Where did I say it was not the future? Hmm?
– Lambie
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
Yes, but for ages is also used a lot with the present: I haven't seen them for ages. i.e. for a long time.
– Lambie
1 hour ago
@Lambie In this context, it is the future. The tense is set by the verb "happening". In your example "seen" is the verb and is past tense.
– Astralbee
1 hour ago
Where did I say it was not the future? Hmm?
– Lambie
1 hour ago
Yes, but for ages is also used a lot with the present: I haven't seen them for ages. i.e. for a long time.
– Lambie
1 hour ago
Yes, but for ages is also used a lot with the present: I haven't seen them for ages. i.e. for a long time.
– Lambie
1 hour ago
@Lambie In this context, it is the future. The tense is set by the verb "happening". In your example "seen" is the verb and is past tense.
– Astralbee
1 hour ago
@Lambie In this context, it is the future. The tense is set by the verb "happening". In your example "seen" is the verb and is past tense.
– Astralbee
1 hour ago
Where did I say it was not the future? Hmm?
– Lambie
1 hour ago
Where did I say it was not the future? Hmm?
– Lambie
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
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It means, “not (for ages) yetâ€Â, that is it will take ages before I can go on holidays. Not yet is used to describe that something is expected to happen but has not for the moment.
– user070221
1 hour ago