in a league of her own
1
7.2
- idiom
- After winning multiple awards for her films, it's clear that she is in a league of her own compared to other actresses.
Examples
-
She's in a league of her own.
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Her performance on the piano was so impressive that she is truly in a league of her own.
-
In the world of tennis, Serena Williams is in a league of her own, dominating every tournament.
Synonyms
36
6.7
Better than anything else in quality or size
19
6.0
So good or special that nothing else matches it
17
4.5
Being better or more impressive than anything else
9
5.3
Better than any other person or thing
6
7.2
So good that it has no match
2
6.0
So good that nothing else is as good
1
6.2
A person or thing that is better than all others
Much better than others in skill or quality
Antonyms
How Exceptional
Surface Forms
Morphology
in + a + league + of + her + own
The phrase combines 'league' (a level or group) with 'of her own' (belonging to a separate category), so a learner who knows the words can often infer a sense of being in a different or higher category. However, the evaluative meaning 'exceptionally good/unique' is a conventionalized metaphorical extension and not fully predictable from the parts without prior exposure, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
In a league of her own comes from sports: a league is a group of teams that play each other, and being in a different league means you are much better than everyone else. So saying someone is in a league of her own means she is 'exceptionally good' and has no equal.