future

(one) has a bright future ahead (of one)

One is poised or has the potential for a very successful life or career in the future. Your daughter is one of the best students I've had in years. She has a very bright future ahead of her. You've got a bright future ahead if you can keep up such an impressive level of performance. Of course we think he has a bright future ahead of him—that's why our scouts chose to draft him second overall!

See also: ahead, bright, future

(one's) future looks bright

One is poised or has the potential for a very successful life or career in the future. Your daughter is one of the best students I've had in years. Her future looks very bright indeed. Your future looks bright if you can keep up such an impressive level of performance. Our team wouldn't have drafted him second overall if we didn't think his future looked bright!

See also: bright, future, look

for the foreseeable future

For the near future based on what one currently knows. What are the biggest issues we need to tackle for the foreseeable future? The doctors had to wire his jaw shut to let it heal, so he'll be drinking his meals for the foreseeable future. A: "It's so exciting that you have your driver's license now!" B: "Yeah, but unless someone magically changes my bike into a car, I'll still be biking to school for the foreseeable future."

See also: for, foreseeable, future

future shock

A sense of shock or anxiety experienced while trying to cope with rapid changes in society or technology. The phrase is attributed to American writer Alvin Toffler. I can't even imagine the future shock our grandparents' generation must feel with the breakneck pace of new technologies now. No wonder you have future shock—life is so different today than it was even 15 years ago! I've definitely felt future shock in my 30-year career as a doctor. I couldn't have predicted some of the medical innovations that have come about in that time!

See also: future, shock

in future

At a future point in time; in the future. We'll have to be more careful about our strategy in future. In future, please be sure to label these transactions appropriately. Should we reach out to our distributors and let them know there may be a problem in future?

See also: future

in the foreseeable future

In the near future based on what one currently knows. What are the biggest issues we need to tackle in the foreseeable future? I don' t think she'll be here any time in the foreseeable future, so let's eat. A: "It's so exciting that you have your driver's license now!" B: "Yeah, but unless someone magically changes my bike into a car, I'll still be biking to school for the foreseeable future."

See also: foreseeable, future

in the future

At a future point in time. We'll have to be more careful about our strategy in the future. In the future, please be sure to label these transactions appropriately. No one can build on this land, so you don't have to worry about your ocean view getting blocked in the future.

See also: future

in the near future

Soon. I hope to have an answer for you in the near future. What are the biggest issues we need to tackle in the near future? If I'm going to stay at this job, I really need to get a raise in the near future.

See also: future, near

in the not-so-distant future

At a time not very far in the future. When I was growing up, we never would have believed that we'd be using phones as powerful as supercomputers in the not-so-distant future. The story is set in the not-so-distant future, when artificial intelligence has just begun to take control of our daily lives. If I'm going to stay at this job, I really need to get a raise in the not-so-distant future.

See also: future

in the not-too-distant future

At a time not very far in the future. When I was growing up, we never would have believed that we'd be using phones as powerful as supercomputers in the not-too-distant future. The story is set in the not-too-distant future, when artificial intelligence has just begun to take control of our daily lives. If I'm going to stay at this job, I really need to get a raise in the not-too-distant future.

See also: future

mortgage (one's) future

To make decisions now that could potentially limit one's future options or success. This business is clearly not going anywhere so, to me, you'd be mortgaging your future to keep dumping so much money into it. Now that he's got an arrest record, he's really mortgaged his future. This is going to follow him around for the rest of his life.

See also: future, mortgage

once and future

Used to categorize someone or something as having an enduring, eternal quality or status. A play on The Once and Future King, a series of novels about the legendary King Arthur. But the real star is John Smith as Falstaff, Shakespeare's once and future comic rogue. The once and future icon of the puppet world, Elmo, is recognizable in just about every country on the planet.

See also: and, future, once

the not-so-distant future

A time not very far in the future. When I was growing up, we never would have believed you that we'd be using phones as powerful as computers in the not-so-distant future. The story is set in the not-so-distant future, when artificial intelligence has just begun to take control of our daily lives.

See also: future

the not-too-distant future

A time not very far in the future. When I was growing up, we never would have believed you that we'd be using phones as powerful as computers in the not-too-distant future. The story is set in the not-too-distant future, when artificial intelligence has just begun to take control of our daily lives.

See also: future

wave of the future

Something that will become increasingly popular and/or trendy in the future. Fashion editors are predicting that this style of dress is the wave of the future. Do you think those views on healthcare represent the wave of the future?

See also: future, of, wave

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

in the near future

Cliché in the time immediately ahead. I don't plan to go to Florida in the near future. Today's prices won't be around in the near future.

See also: future, near

one's future looks bright.

Fig. One has a promising future. Tom's future looks bright and he will do well if he keeps working hard.

See also: bright, future, look

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

in the near future

Very soon, within a short time. For example, We'll be needing a new car in the near future. This term employs near in the sense of "close at hand," a usage dating from about 1300. Also see at hand, def. 2.

See also: future, near

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

future shock

a state of distress or disorientation due to rapid social or technological change.

This phrase was coined by the American writer Alvin Toffler ( 1928–2016 ) in Horizon ( 1965 ), where he defines it as ‘the dizzying disorientation brought on by the premature arrival of the future’.

See also: future, shock

once and future

denoting someone or something that is eternal, enduring, or constant.

This expression comes from T. H. White's The Once and Future King ( 1958 ), a series of novels about the Arthurian legends.

See also: and, future, once

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

in the not too ˌdistant ˈfuture

not a long time in the future; fairly soon: We’re thinking of having a baby in the not too distant future.

See also: distant, future, not

for/in the foreseeable ˈfuture

for/in the period of time when you can predict what is going to happen, based on the present circumstances: The statue will remain in the museum for the foreseeable future. ♢ It’s unlikely that the hospital will be closed in the foreseeable future (= soon).

See also: for, foreseeable, future

in ˈfuture

(British English) (American English in the ˈfuture) from now on: Please be more careful in future. ♢ In future, make sure the door is never left unlocked.

See also: future

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017