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since a long time ago

since a long time ago

1 3.2
From a very long time ago up to now
  • idiom
translation icon : desde hace mucho tiempo
  • We have lived in this house since a long time ago.

Examples

  • They moved to Paris since a long time ago.

  • She has collected rare coins since a long time ago.

  • This tradition has existed since a long time ago in our village.

  • I haven't seen her since a long time ago.

  • I have loved this book since a long time ago.

  • She has been my friend since a long time ago.

  • They stopped visiting us since a long time ago.

Synonyms

long ago
vssince a long time ago
521 1.0

A long time in the past

is about a past starting time that extends up to the present
long since
vssince a long time ago
87 4.6

Saying that something happened many years ago and is not true now

is the expression indicating continuation from that past time to now
way back when
vssince a long time ago
  • Informal
22 7.3

A long time ago

is used to mark a distant starting point that continues to now
from way back
vssince a long time ago
  • Informal
5 7.7

Since a long time ago

is the phrase marking a start in the distant past that continues now
long long ago
vssince a long time ago
  • Literature
1 3.5

A time very far in the past often used to begin a story

is used to express a beginning in the distant past that continues now
since Hector was a pup
vssince a long time ago
  • UK
9.9

For a very long time

is a neutral literal form for a distant starting time that continues now
since the year dot
vssince a long time ago
  • UK
9.3

For a very long time

is the general expression for a distant starting time that continues now

How Long

since a long time ago
1 3.2
recently
1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

since + a + long + time + ago

The meaning is directly compositional: 'since' marks a starting point in time, 'a long time' indicates an extended period, and 'ago' places that period in the past. Although the string is slightly redundant/unidiomatic in native usage (learners might instead hear 'for a long time' or 'a long time ago'), the overall sense is plainly derived from the constituent meanings and is cross-linguistically transparent.

Etymology

The phrase since a long time ago paints a picture: the word since marks a starting point and a long time ago shows that start is far in the past, so it means 'from a long time in the past until now'.