one of a kind
- idiom
- In custom manufacturing, one-of-a-kind products are manufactured one at a time.
- a one-of-a-kind image
Like he's just truly one-of-a-kind and I cannot wait to meet him.
- Like he's just truly one-of-a-kind and I cannot wait to meet him.
- But actually, Brooklyn Prince is one-of-a-kind on this planet.
- He is the creator of YMH Studios, he is one-of-a-kind and we're grateful to have him back today.
- So to to be original is unique, one-of-a-kind.
- I did 'cause like, I just knew that to be true, you know, My dad was one-of-a-kind.
- So how can you make it feel fresh and relevant and unique and one-of-a-kind?
- And you know, Brody, you know, Brody was a one-of-a-kind performer.
- You your mind, bro, is it is one-of-a-kind.
Examples
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"Most of these pieces are one of a kind, created by craftsmen who were masters in their day.
Fiction book (2002) -
South Beach is a one-of-a-kind place worth a visit.
Academic text (2006) -
"No, I think this is one of a kind, thank God," she said.
Fiction book (1997) -
It's one of a kind, a prototype.
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Together, these features make the Commission truly one of a kind as a system for the settlement of disputes.
Academic text (2000) -
I thought I was unique, you know, one of a kind, dispensing advice no one else was capable of giving.
Fiction book (1994) -
But actually, Brooklyn Prince is one-of-a-kind on this planet.
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When successful, the rewards far outweigh the challenges, because in the end you will enjoy unique, one-of-a-kind images.
Academic text (2010) -
It's one-of-a-kind, kid.
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Each piece in the gallery is truly one of a kind, showcasing the artist's unique vision.
Synonyms
A single person or thing that is special and has no equal
The only one of its kind
A person or thing unlike any other
One of a kind and unlike anything else
A unique thing or event that will never happen again
Antonyms
How Unique
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'one' (a single) combined with 'of a kind' (belonging to a type) yields the inference that there is only a single item of that type, i.e. unique. This construction follows ordinary English noun-phrase logic and has close equivalents in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows the words should be able to derive the meaning.
Etymology
One of a kind comes from the simple image of putting things into groups by kind and finding there is only one item in a group. So, it means 'unique' or 'the only one'.