a short distance

/ə ʃɔːrt ˈdɪstəns/
noun phraseBeginner
general

a small or brief distance

We walked a short distance to the park.

We walked a little way to the park.

The hotel is a short distance from the beach.

The hotel is not far from the beach.

💡

This phrase is commonly used to describe something that is nearby or easily reachable.

Collocations

a short distance awaynot far from a locationa short distance fromclose to a place

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

a stone's throwphrase
a very short distance
within walking distancephrase
close enough to walk to

💡Pro Tip

Common Usage

This phrase is often used to describe something that is nearby or easily reachable.

📖Word Origin

The phrase 'a short distance' is a combination of the adjective 'short' and the noun 'distance', both of which are derived from Old English. 'Short' comes from 'sceort', and 'distance' comes from 'distanse', which is from Old French 'distance' and Latin 'distancia'.

📝Usage Notes

This phrase is often used to describe something that is within walking distance or easily reachable. It can also be used to describe a brief period of time or a small amount of space.

Word Breakdown

a
an indefinite article
determiner
+
short
of little length
adjective
+
distance
the amount of space between two points
noun
English Dictionary