nowhere near en · ADV
Etymology
Presumably a reformation of Old English nāhwǣr nēah (literally “nowhere nigh”).
Meanings
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Not by a large margin, not nearly, not at all.
England, defensively, were not good enough - nowhere near the standard that would be acceptable at the highest international level.
2019 September 10, Phil McNulty, “'England horribly fallible in defence' against Kosovo in Euro 2020 qualifying”, in BBC Sport:He's not bad, but he's nowhere near as good as me.
We have nowhere near enough money to buy you a car.