from a mile away
Seen coming easily
From a mile away describes something obvious or easily detected, even from a great distance.
The phrase emphasizes how unmistakable something is: You could see that disaster coming from a mile away, I can spot a liar from a mile away.
The literal mile is hyperbolic—the point is that no special effort or proximity is needed to perceive what's plain to see.
- stand outBe noticeably different
- stick outExtend beyond a surface
- noticeBecome aware of
- smokeAirborne combustion byproduct
- clearWithout obstruction or fog
see it coming · clear as crystal · detect · bright as day · blatant · horizon · unmistakable · easy to spot · outline · overt · perceive · glaring · sense · distinguish · plain as day · transparent · self-evident · stick out like a sore thumb
from a mile awayhidden
Kept out of sight
concealed · invisible · undetectable · imperceptible · subtle
from a mile awayup close
At close range
under a microscope · at arm's length · nose to nose · point-blank · intimately
from a mile awayimperceptibly
Below detection threshold
invisibly · undetectably · under the radar · beneath notice · with difficulty
mile, away, miles, mileage, miler, milepost, milestone, milometer