quantum leap

quantum leap

A sudden or important change or improvement. Gary's new job in upper management is a quantum leap forward from his old position at the factory.
See also: leap, quantum
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

quantum leap

A dramatic advance, especially in knowledge or method, as in Establishing a central bank represents a quantum leap in this small country's development. This term originated as quantum jump in the mid-1900s in physics, where it denotes a sudden change from one energy state to another within an atom. Within a decade it was transferred to other advances, not necessarily sudden but very important ones.
See also: leap, quantum
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

a quantum leap

A quantum leap is a very great and sudden increase in the size, amount, or quality of something. The vaccine represents a quantum leap in healthcare. The scale of migration took a quantum leap in the early 1970s. Note: People sometimes say a quantum jump with the same meaning. We want a quantum jump in exports.
See also: leap, quantum
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

quantum leap

a sudden large increase or advance.
A literal quantum leap is the abrupt transition of an electron, atom, or molecule from one quantum state to another.
See also: leap, quantum
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

a quantum ˈleap

(also a quantum ˈjump less frequent) a sudden very large increase, advance or improvement in something: This latest research represents a quantum leap in our understanding of the universe. The quantum leap in writing technology came with the introduction of personal computers.
In physics, a quantum jump is a sudden change in a physical quality such as energy from one fixed level to another.
See also: leap, quantum
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

quantum leap

A sudden, spectacular advance. The term comes from nuclear physics, where a quantum leap is an abrupt transition from one energy state to another within the submicroscopic atom. William Safire pointed out that while scientists emphasize the suddenness and discontinuity of such a change, the figurative term emphasizes the size of the advance. The term was used in physics from about 1950 and began to be transferred (at first in the form of quantum jump) to other events about 1955.
See also: leap, quantum
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • a quantum leap
  • quantum
  • quantum jump
  • leap
  • have a (sudden) rush of blood to the head
  • have a rush of blood to the head
  • all of a sudden
  • of a sudden
  • thrust forward
  • jump out at (one)
References in periodicals archive
'Quantum Leap' rests on a set of key assumptions for each of the Group's three engines.
SCOR LAUNCHES ITS NEW STRATEGIC PLAN, 'QUANTUM LEAP'
Quantum Leap also supports Reality Lab's Hyper VR technology, which allows content creators to add three-dimensional objects and animations, creating an augmented reality.
Is Virtual Reality Coming To Reality TV?
Quantum Leap Farm (www.quantumleapfarm.org) was born, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization situated on 11 acres of land in Odessa, Fla.
Taking a Quantum Leap
In addition SITA says its Communication Management Tools, including AIRCOM Server and Flight Sentry Display, are: "the de-facto industry standard in use by over 60 major airlines worldwide." Garuda's 'Quantum Leap' plan includes an increase to more than 27 million passengers and 62 destinations by 2014.
Garuda selects AIRCOM
Jane Barrash is executive director of Continuum Center, Minneapolis, Minn., and subject of the 2009 film, "Making the Quantum Leap: Over the rainbow, through the 'hoods and down the rabbit hole ...
Go figure another miracle on ice
MANAMA: Bahrain is poised for a quantum leap in political, economic and social development, Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa declared yesterday.
QUANTUM LEAP
This volume is expected to experience a quantum leap soon.
TIBCO's first hardware
Summary: Relations between Morocco and The Canary islands have witnessed a "significant quantum leap" over the last years, the regional government of the Canary Islands said on Saturday.
'Significant quantum leap' in Morocco-Canary relations, Canary government
In fact, if I'm honest, the sharp change makes me feel like I've made a quantum leap. My boss has a temperament not unlike a rabid wolf and will often go nuclear at the slightest thing.
Dane shocked by actions of angy boss
"Switching from singleseaters to stock cars is a quantum leap for me.
Franchitti yet to hit top gear; AUTO
While admitting things can go wrong, Nassief said: "I am increasingly positive." These projects will allow us to get the critical mass that we need to interface effectively with the marketplace and make a quantum leap both in quantity and quality of hotel rooms."
Three possible tourism projects
I was most impressed by the quantum leap in quality.
It's a taut little tin-top
But taking the quantum leap that's needed to pull the region together, and open it up at the same time, would be worth every penny.
Fast track to the future
Now as a wholly-owned Cal-Bay subsidiary, COBS is lauding Maki's TLCO Software as a key tool in a making a "quantum leap" in their expansion plans in the online homebuilding and construction arena.
Software developer strikes deal
"It represents a quantum leap forward in Lean implementation in just a single year," she said.
Ogden Air Logistics public affairs (July 24, 2006): Ogden Air Logistics Center earns Shingo Gold