What does ahead of your time mean

Of course, there is no way that anyone can actually get "ahead of time" in reality. The phrase uses this bit of metaphor as a way to say something in a familiar and colloquial way. It provides a short-hand, colorful method of indicating when something is happening before a predetermined time. Jim B. Please enter the following code:. Login: Forgot password? You complete something or get ready for something before it is due or needed.

It is the same as saying beforehand. If you add a subject to the phrase, it takes on a slightly different meaning. If a person is ahead of his time, or an idea is ahead of its time, it means that the person or idea is advanced, usually too advanced for current technological abilities or the current society. Technology and society will later catch up. It can be said that Thomas Edison was ahead of his time for inventing the electric light bulb; now, however, we consider this kind of utility to be commonplace.

There is no specific origin of the phrase, but it stems naturally from the idea that you do something ahead of, or before, the time needed. Word of the Day have a heart of gold. Blog Outsets and onsets! Read More. November 08, To top. Sign up for free and get access to exclusive content:. Free word lists and quizzes from Cambridge. Tools to create your own word lists and quizzes. Word lists shared by our community of dictionary fans. Sign up now or Log in.