Meaning of the English Idiom Down the Road: The idiom down the road has a literal meaning
and a figurative one.
Literally, down the road means farther along this same road.
Up the road is a synonym except 'up the road' has no figurative meaning.
When used in this way, the expression refers to a road one is on or one is near.
It is often used when giving directions or describing where something is located.
Sometimes, down the road and up the road are combined into 'up and down the road.'
For example: "This morning there were army trucks driving up and down the road.
It was weird."
Here, up and down means back and forth although sometimes people do consider one direction
to be up, such as north or toward town, and the other to be down, such as south or away
from town.
When the word 'just' is added, it means 'not far down the road' or near.
Examples Of Use: "Don't worry, there's a gas station just down the road."
"Can you tell me where there is a grocery store?"
"Sure, there's one down the road about a mile."
"Just up the road a piece there's a big church.
Right before the church you'll see a road on your right.
You want to turn there."
"I live up the road about half a mile so I'm able to walk to work."
Figuratively, down the road means in the future; at a certain point in the future.
Often, when using this idiom, a time in the future is mentioned.
Examples Of Use: "They always told me algebra and calculus would be useful down the road,
but I've yet to use it!"
"Down the road, in a couple of years, you have the potential to be a great singer but
right now you need to keep practicing and learning."
"Many people think that down the road, Michelle Obama will be president."
"Down the road, there will be a vaccine but right now we have to be careful."
Origin of Idiom: The literal meaning of this idiom has been in use since at least the early
part of the 1800s while the figurative sense has been used since the second half of the
1900s, converting forward movement or distance into time.
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