be a hundred years too early

verb

To be so immature and unprepared as to have no hope of achieving an accomplishment.

“Don't make me waste my time! You are a hundred years too early to be an opponent worthy of fighting me!”

OriginJapanese 百年早い →
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Meanings

verbbe a hundred years too early (irregular; see conjugation of "be")

irregular see conjugation of "be"

  1. idiomaticslanganimeTo be so immature and unprepared as to have no hope of achieving an accomplishment.

    Don't make me waste my time! You are a hundred years too early to be an opponent worthy of fighting me!

Origin

  1. Japanese百年早い
  2. Englishbe a hundred years too early

Calque of Japanese 百年早い (hyaku-nen hayai). This Japanese idiom was a hyperbole derived from 十年早い (jūnen hayai, “you are ten years too early”).

More words from Japanese

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic أمامكَ مئة عام, أمامكِ مئة عام
  • أمامكَ مئة عام (amāmaka mi'atu 'ām)Translations
  • أمامكِ مئة عام (amāmaki mi'atu 'ām)Translations
Chinese Mandarin 還早一百年 /还早一百年
  • 還早一百年 /还早一百年 (hái zǎo yībǎinián)Translations
Hindi तुझसे यह सौ साल दूर है
  • तुझसे यह सौ साल दूर है (tujhse yah sau sāl dūr hai)Translations
Japanese 百年早い
  • 百年早い (hyaku-nen hayai)Translations
Cite this entry
APA

be a hundred years too early. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/be%20a%20hundred%20years%20too%20early

MLA

“be a hundred years too early.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/be%20a%20hundred%20years%20too%20early. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “be a hundred years too early,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/be%20a%20hundred%20years%20too%20early.

Source: be a hundred years too early on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.