1930s
Still common
Definition
Nowhere near; not even close.
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Where "Not Within a Bull's Roar" Comes From
A bull's roar can carry over a very long distance, so being "not within a bull's roar" of something means being nowhere near it at all.
The phrase is first recorded in the 1930s and can also be used without the negative — "within a bull's roar" means reasonably close — with an even more exaggerated version, "within a bee's dick," used for something extremely close.
Example Sentence
"The team wasn't within a bull's roar of winning the grand final."
How Aussies Actually Use It
It's most often heard in sport and competition, describing a team or contestant who fell well short of a result.
It works for distance, chance, or achievement alike — anywhere the point is that something wasn't even in the ballpark.
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