[have] a long way to go
1
to be in a place or position where one needs to make a lot of progress in order to achieve a desired result
The phrase "have a long way to go" likely originated from the literal meaning of the words. It suggests that someone or something still has a considerable distance to travel in order to reach a desired goal or outcome. It is used to describe a situation where an individual or entity still needs to make a lot of progress in order to achieve a desired result.
- Despite working hard for months, the company had a long way to go to recover from the financial losses of the previous year.
- If the athlete wants to compete at the highest level, she knows that she has a long way to go and will need to work on her technique and endurance.