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Glite Dictionary
oasis in the city

oasis in the city

3.8
A peaceful, quiet place in a city that gives people a break from noise
  • noun
translation icon : oasis en la ciudad
  • Many coffee shops try to be an oasis in the city for urban dwellers seeking relaxation.

Examples

  • This park is an oasis in the city.

  • Her rooftop garden was an oasis in the city, filled with flowers and quiet corners.

  • The central park became an oasis in the city for people needing a break from traffic and noise.

  • Finding an oasis in the city can be challenging.

  • The park is a lovely oasis in the city, where people can relax away from the hustle and bustle.

  • Many residents see the community garden as an oasis in the city, providing a quiet retreat amidst urban life.

  • The art gallery serves as an oasis in the city, offering a serene environment for visitors to enjoy and reflect.

Synonyms

paradise
vsoasis in the city
192 4.0

A place or state of perfect happiness and peace

is a modest real-world peaceful spot rather than an absolute perfect place
sanctuary
vsoasis in the city
70 4.1

A safe place where people go to escape danger

is more about calm rest and relief from urban noise than protection
retreat
vsoasis in the city
69 4.2

A quiet place where you can relax alone

offers peaceful relief within busy urban life rather than private seclusion
oasis
vsoasis in the city
28 4.1

A calm safe place that gives relief in hard times

is about peaceful rest and relief from urban noise rather than danger
Shangri-la
vsoasis in the city
  • Literature
7 9.8

An imaginary perfect, peaceful place where people feel very happy and safe

is a real small urban respite not an imaginary perfect world
quiet oasis
vsoasis in the city
1 3.9

A calm, peaceful place surrounded by noise or busy activity

is the same but specifically found in urban areas
Arcadia
vsoasis in the city
  • Literature
1 8.6

An imagined peaceful place in nature where people live simply and happily

is a tranquil urban relief rather than a rural ideal with nature
Eden
vsoasis in the city
1 6.8

A place or state that has great happiness and peace

is an ordinary peaceful urban refuge not an idealized or perfect state

How Peaceful

sanctuary
70 4.1
oasis in the city
3.8
quiet oasis
1 3.9
greenspace
1 3.0

Surface Forms

oasis in the city singular
oases in the city plural

Morphology

oasis + in + the + city

The phrase is directly compositional: combining 'oasis' (a restorative/safe place) with the locative 'in the city' yields the straightforward meaning of a peaceful or restful spot located within an urban area. The metaphorical use of 'oasis' for a calm refuge is common across languages and involves no opaque idiomatic shift, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words should be able to infer the meaning.

Etymology

The phrase oasis in the city comes from the image of an oasis in a desert: a small green place with water and shade surrounded by dry land. When people call a park or coffee shop an oasis in the city, they mean it is a calm, restful spot that gives relief from noise and busy streets, so it now means 'a peaceful place' in a busy urban area.