centre of the universe
- noun
- /ˈsɛntər əv ðə ˈjunɪvɜrs/
- Offensive
:
el ombligo del mundo
- At her birthday party, she felt like the centre of the universe as all her friends gathered to celebrate her.
So China views itself as the center of the universe, the Middle Kingdom.
- So China views itself as the center of the universe, the Middle Kingdom.
- No, because when I think I am the center of the universe, I will be doing so many idiotic things.
Examples
-
I'm not, I'm not the solipsistic center of the universe dropping down the curtain of, you know, secrecy on everything that I engage in.
-
Covered by a beautiful dome sky... it seemed to me that when I was a child, it was the centre of the universe.
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You are at the center of the universe right now.
-
So China views itself as the center of the universe, the Middle Kingdom.
-
No, because when I think I am the center of the universe, I will be doing so many idiotic things.
-
When my daughters were very were infants, were young, they tended to think that they're at the centre of the universe, that everything centres on them.
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He acts like he is the centre of the universe, expecting everyone to cater to his whims.
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In his eyes, he has always been the centre of the universe, believing that his opinions matter more than anyone else's.
Synonyms
17
8.2
A person who thinks only about themselves and always wants attention
3
6.7
A person who thinks mainly about themselves and their needs
A person who thinks only about themselves and ignores other people's feelings
Antonyms
How Self-Important
8
9.9
- Offensive
43
7.2
- Offensive
- Offensive
4
6.8
- US
56
3.9
1
6.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a metaphorical extension of 'centre' (the most important point) plus 'universe' (everything), so together they compositionally suggest someone who regards themselves as the most important. This relation is predictable but relies on metaphorical inference rather than a literal, regular compositional rule, so a B1 learner would often infer it but not with full automatic transparency.
Etymology
Centre of the universe comes from the simple image of space where all the stars and planets seem to go around one place, the centre, in the whole universe. So, calling someone the centre of the universe means they act as if 'everything revolves around them' or that they are 'the most important'.