in rare form
4
7.6
- idiom
- Informal
:
en plena forma
- The comedian was in rare form at the club last night, making the audience laugh non-stop.
- in rare form today
- in rare form tonight
Lakers verse Warriors, both of them ended the series out in rare form.
- Lakers verse Warriors, both of them ended the series out in rare form.
Examples
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Your father is in rare form today.
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The Kid is in rare form tonight.
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Today, they were in rare form.
Blog text (22) -
You are in rare form today, Vi.
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You were in rare form tonight, Markie.
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She was in rare form today.
Blog text (26) -
Afterward, when my father would come home after the service, he'd say something like, "Reverend Sullivan was in rare form today."
Fiction book (2000) -
Judging from McB's reaction to your new fax, you're in rare form.
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You are in rare form today, impressing everyone with your energy.
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After a week of rest, she was in rare form, delivering an outstanding performance.
Synonyms
859
3.8
Very unusual or much greater than usual
80
4.1
To a much higher level than usual
In a wild, fast way with little control
Antonyms
How Impressive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from 'in' + 'rare' + 'form': 'rare' (exceptional) modifies 'form' (current condition or performance), yielding 'in an exceptionally good/unusual state'. This follows a common English pattern (compare 'in good form') and is likely comprehensible to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.
Etymology
In rare form may come from older use where rare meant 'unusual' or 'excellent' and form meant a performer's condition or shape. Imagine a singer or player suddenly full of skill and energy. Saying they are in rare form means they are performing much better than usual.