Not long means: Fairly recently.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
Seen in the wild
5 citations · last seen May 2026
Seen in the wild
BlueskyMay 2026
I see the London marathon is taking place over 2 days next year. Still probably not long enough for me to finish it.
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BlueskyMay 2026
I heard a bit of squabbling in the bushes and peeked in…. Fox cubs - not long out of their den.
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BlueskyMay 2026
I was very specifically told, by this White House, that their capability had been totally obliterated not long ago and any question of that was fake news. WTF man.
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BlueskyMay 2026
That’s good you’ve not long to wait now. Let’s hope it does the trick 🤞
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BlueskyMay 2026
reggie’s not long gone to bed.
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Definitions
UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK
(UK) Fairly recently.
"How long have you been in the service?" ―"Not long."
For parents
Not long means: Fairly recently.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
not long means: Fairly recently.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
Heard in the wild
“I see the London marathon is taking place over 2 days next year. Still probably not long enough for me to finish it.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“I heard a bit of squabbling in the bushes and peeked in…. Fox cubs - not long out of their den.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“I was very specifically told, by this White House, that their capability had been totally obliterated not long ago and any question of that was fake news. WTF man.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“That’s good you’ve not long to wait now. Let’s hope it does the trick 🤞”
— Bluesky· May 2026“reggie’s not long gone to bed.”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Other words near "not long" (N)
notinoticeno tickee, no washeenot in Kansas anymorenotionnotionynot menot much chopnot much copnot onnot on your nellynotornis
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