since

Extremely good, wonderful, impressive, or revolutionary, often said facetiously or sarcastically. Taken from the more common expression "the best thing since sliced bread." In this usage, a pan, in which a loaf of bread is baked, refers to the loaf of bread itself. Primarily heard in Ireland. I don't care what you say, I think she's the best thing since sliced pan! This new smartphone design really is the best thing since sliced pan.

Long ago; of the (relatively) distant past. Though Sarah had long since moved on from their relationship, Jonathan still hoped they would one day get back together. I came back to my hometown after college, eager to reconnect with old friends, but they had long since moved away.

the very beginning; the very first day. (*Typically: from ~; since ~.) You haven't done anything right since day one! You're fired! She was unhappy with her new car from day one.

Rur. the most wonderful invention or useful item in a long time. As far as I'm concerned, this new food processor is the greatest thing since indoor plumbing. Joe thinks Sally is the greatest thing since sliced bread. You can tell just by the way he looks at her.

Rur. very small or short. (Usually used to describe children. *Typically: be ~; since someone was ~.) I've known you since you were knee-high to a jackrabbit. My, how you've grown! The last time I saw you, you were knee-high to a grasshopper!

since a very long time ago. (Literally, since time before recorded history.) My hometown has had a big parade on the Fourth of July since time immemorial. since time immemorial, the trees have blossomed each spring.

Inf. When was that decided?; That's news to me.; When was that done? Tom: You've been assigned to the night Shift. John: since when? Jane: Fred is now the assistant manager. Pete: Since when? Jane: since I appointed him, that's when.

wonderful My kids think their new puppy is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

for how long have you believed Since when do you have the right to tell me what to do? But really, since when is $250 too expensive for a nice watch?

if someone or something is described as the best thing since sliced bread, people think they are extremely good, often better than they really are Portable phones are marketed as the best thing since sliced bread, but to me they're just another expensive gadget. The way he goes on about her - you'd think she was the greatest thing since sliced bread.

for longer than anyone can remember Her family had farmed that land from time immemorial.

for a very long time Children have been fascinated by ghost stories since the year dot.

Also, best thing since sliced bread. An excellent new invention, as in Harry swears that this new program is the greatest thing since sliced bread. This phrase, used either straightforwardly or sarcastically, alludes to the convenience of buying bread that is already sliced. [Mid-1900s]

A very long time ago. One explanation suggests that the expression might have become popular in the 1920s when many schoolboys studied Greek and had dogs named Hector after the Homeric hero. Another possibility is also rooted in classical studies: according to the playwright Euripides, Hector's mother, Hecuba, was turned into a dog for murdering the killer of her older son; therefore, Hector was the son of a dog, which made him a pup. In any event, the phrase is now obsolete.