way back when

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way back when

1. (idiomatic) At a time in the distant past.
   • 2005 July 8, Caryn James, “Critic's Notebook: When the Film Outshines The Novel”, in New York Times, retrieved 2 March 2018:

     The book's enduring power is also evident in its big-headed tripods from outer space, described perfectly by Wells way back when.

way back when

1. (idiomatic) At a time in the distant past.
   • 2017 May 15, Andrew Ross Sorkin, “20 Years On, Amazon and Jeff Bezos Prove Naysayers Wrong”, in New York Times, retrieved 2 March 2018:

     Even Warren Buffett was skeptical of Amazon way back when.