streets ahead
Vastly more advanced
Streets ahead means far superior or well in advance of the competition: Their technology is streets ahead of anything else on the market.
The phrase is primarily British, suggesting a lead so substantial it's measured not in steps but city blocks.
It gained wider recognition through the American sitcom *Community*, where a character insisted it was "verbal wildfire."
Exceeding another's speed
- outstrippingGoing beyond in speed
- outclassingDemonstrating clear superiority
- surpassingGoing beyond in quality
- eclipsingObscuring by surpassing
dominating · leading · leaving behind · in the lead · out in front · pulling away
First to explore territory
- groundbreakingIntroducing radical new ideas
- trailblazingBeing the first through
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- game-changingFundamentally altering outcomes
forward-thinking · visionary · progressive · boundary-pushing · disruptive · next-gen · futuristic
First purchaser of innovations
- first moverOne acting before others
- tastemakerOne who shapes trends
- trendsetterOne who initiates styles
- fashion-forwardEmbracing emerging styles
cool · hip · with it · in the know · plugged in · cutting-edge · bleeding-edge · next level
Named organizational body
- PiercePersonal name, English origin
- coinedCreated a new term
- catchphraseSignature line of words
- British slangInformal UK vocabulary
colloquial · expression · saying · idiom · phrase · verbal tic
outpacing
Exceeding another's speed
- outstrippingGoing beyond in speed
- outclassingDemonstrating clear superiority
- surpassingGoing beyond in quality
eclipsing · dominating · leading · leaving behind · in the lead · out in front · pulling away
pioneering
First to explore territory
- groundbreakingIntroducing radical new ideas
- trailblazingBeing the first through
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
game-changing · forward-thinking · visionary · progressive · boundary-pushing · disruptive · next-gen · futuristic
early adopter
First purchaser of innovations
- first moverOne acting before others
- tastemakerOne who shapes trends
- trendsetterOne who initiates styles
fashion-forward · cool · hip · with it · in the know · plugged in · cutting-edge · bleeding-edge · next level
Community
Named organizational body
- PiercePersonal name, English origin
- coinedCreated a new term
- catchphraseSignature line of words
British slang · colloquial · expression · saying · idiom · phrase · verbal tic
streets aheadlagging
Failing to keep pace
trailing · behind · falling behind · bringing up the rear · lagging behind
streets aheadsubpar
Below acceptable quality
second-rate · bottom of the barrel · not even close · pale in comparison
streets aheaddead last
Finishing behind all others
out of one's depth · outclassed · second-rate · mediocre · subpar
street, ahead, streets, head, heads, headed, heading, headway