before long
56
1.6
- idiom
:
pronto
- I'm sure that we'll come up with something before long.
- become before long
And before long, I sort of apologized for the offence it caused.
- And before long, I sort of apologized for the offence it caused.
- And, you know, this person that I'm supposed to be, you know, will surface before long.
- So for some of us, when we sit, it's that monkey mind, my racing thoughts, if they're worrisome thoughts, before long, I'm in worry now.
- It's a viable process, and before long we stop trusting everything and everyone and ourselves.
- Tried to wear my hair straight but it's hot as hell out here and it'll be beach wave sweaty before long.
- Nah, before long you will be thanking them for eating the dinner you prepared for them.
- And, you know, before long, I could hear flooding against the doors and breaking glass as this mob was trying to get into the chamber.
- And so we're going to have, you know, before long.
- It we will get into it in all its practical realities and actionables before long.
- But you will move, you know, if you're not closing up up front, you're going to get punished at the end before long because teams will come through you.
- If you could just get the people to actually wake up and say Christ, you know, it's not conspiracy and it before long it's going to be just too late.
Examples
-
I hadn't a minute to myself, and before long, I was exhausted.
Fiction book (1991) -
I know, but I shall be back before long.
-
- I certainly do, and I expect before long, you will.
-
I may call on you before long.
-
Before long, two men showed up.
-
I was utterly taken, and before long we became fast friends.
Academic text (2006) -
Before long, details of an issue thought to be held in confidence end up widely known.
Academic text (2016) -
READ began its work in public libraries, but before long, the program had expanded into elementary schools.
Academic text (2013) -
Her mother would surely be there before long; she had gone out to buy a blouse and black stockings.
Fiction book (1995) -
Before long, they will be ready to go for a walk.
Synonyms
621
1.0
In a little while
171
1.7
Happens at a time that is early enough, not too late
54
1.7
After a very short time
8
3.4
Soon, in a short time
Antonyms
How Soon
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase 'before long' is compositionally derived from 'before' (prior to) + 'long' (a long time) to mean 'before a long time has passed', i.e. soon. This adverbial composition is cross-linguistically common and follows regular English patterns, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
The phrase before long comes from the old use of long to mean 'a long time', so before long literally means 'before a long time passes'. That's why it now means 'soon' or 'in the near future'.