THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
A stone’s throw
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
A very short distance from a place or person.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- The library is a stone’s throw from my flat.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
The library is ________ from my flat.
Show the answer
A stone’s throw — A very short distance from a place or person.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “A stone’s throw” about your own life.
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Does your sentence match this meaning?
A very short distance from a place or person.
Compare: The library is a stone’s throw from my flat.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use it to describe a nearby location in everyday conversation or informal writing. It gives an approximate sense of closeness.
More examples in context
- We found a quiet café just a stone’s throw away.
- Their office is within a stone’s throw of the station.
Usage note
Use from after a stone’s throw, or of after within a stone’s throw. This is not a precise measurement, and no actual stone is thrown.
A short conversation
A: Will we need a taxi to the museum?
B: No, it is a stone’s throw from here.
A: Great. Let us walk.
One more practice question
If a shop is a stone’s throw from your home, where is it?
A. Very nearby.
B. Several hours away.
Check your answer
A. The phrase describes a short distance.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.