the likes of
110
6.4
- idiom
:
como
- "I was dog tired and sick of being bossed around by the likes of these people.
- denounce the likes of
He has interviewed the likes of Barack Obama.
- He has interviewed the likes of Barack Obama.
- Next up, compete with the likes of Microsoft and Open AI.
- Every job gets an Oscar type award show, including the likes of plumbers, teachers.
- So I would look at the likes of Josh, Denzel and Spencer.
- The scale of that battle is the likes of which Hazarim shall never see again.
- And it would have competed with the likes of, for example, the Asus ROG Strix.
- I mean, we had a repression of the left the likes of which we had not seen before.
- In a nutshell, Boo is in the same category club as the likes of Primark or Sheein.
- Quote UN quote Our geniuses the likes of a Van Gogh, a Kusama and a Beethoven?
- But his whole cabinet, it's just we are a full blown oligarchy, the likes of Hungary and Russia.
Examples
-
Oil and gas companies the likes of BP and Shell.
-
Now the world looks on as Russia deepens its military ties with the likes of North Korea and Iran.
-
And if I have, why would I be telling the likes of you?
-
A move the likes of which the world had never seen before.
-
What I'm worried about is the likes of the younger generation coming up, having their kids.
-
Are you prepared for a night of feasting and sport the likes of which you will never forget?
-
He has interviewed the likes of Barack Obama.
-
Founding fathers didn't account for the likes of chairman Benson.
-
But we have little time to mourn the dead while the likes of Taim are alive and ungentled.
Fiction book (1992) -
He has met the likes of famous actors and musicians during his career.
Synonyms
99
4.1
Other things or people that are alike
89
5.7
A person or thing of the same kind
2
7.0
Like the other things just mentioned
Antonyms
How Similar
Surface Forms
Morphology
the + like + of
The noun 'like' meaning 'a person or thing of the same kind' combined with 'the' and 'of' composes a meaning equivalent to 'people/things similar to X', so a learner who knows the constituents can often infer the basic sense. However, the expression is a fixed phrasal pattern with plural 'likes' and pragmatic nuance (emphatic or disapproving use) that are not fully predictable from the parts, so full comprehension of its register and usage may require prior exposure.
Etymology
The likes of comes from likes, a word used for 'people or things like that', so imagine pointing at a group who are similar. That's why today we use the likes of to talk about people or things of the same type, often to show 'disapproval' or that something is 'unusual'.