not long
Just a while
Not long means a short amount of time, either past or future: She arrived not long after we did, It won't be long now.
The phrase often softens estimates or creates anticipation.
Not long ago places events in the recent past without specifying exactly when.
- soonIn brief time
- just around the cornerVery close temporally
- shortOf limited extent
- briefShort in duration
- around the cornerVery close in time/space
lately · ago · transient · momentary · imminent · recent · ephemeral · fleeting · forthcoming · stubby · short-lived · time flies · nigh · in the near future · directly · looming · instant · near-term