60+ Idioms for Rare With Meanings and Examples
Language is a beautiful tapestry woven with colorful expressions that help us communicate more effectively. When something doesn’t happen often or is difficult to find, we use special phrases called idioms to describe it. These idioms add flavor to our conversations and make our language more engaging and memorable.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore over 60 idioms that describe rare events, uncommon situations, and exceptional things. Whether you’re a student learning English, a writer looking to enrich your vocabulary, or simply someone who loves language, this collection will help you express rarity in creative and meaningful ways.
Why Learn Idioms for Rare?
Idioms are more than just fancy phrases – they’re windows into culture and history. When you understand and use idioms for rare things, you:
- Communicate more naturally with native English speakers
- Add depth and color to your writing and speech
- Express complex ideas in simple, memorable ways
- Connect with cultural references that have stood the test of time
- Make your language more engaging and interesting
Let’s dive into this treasure trove of rare idioms!
List of Best Rare Idioms
1. Once in a Blue Moon
Meaning: Something that happens very rarely or almost never
In a Sentence:
- I only visit my hometown once in a blue moon because I live so far away.
- My grandfather eats fast food once in a blue moon; he prefers home-cooked meals.
Other Ways to Say: Hardly ever, Very rarely
2. As Rare as Hen’s Teeth
Meaning: Extremely rare or virtually impossible to find (since hens don’t have teeth)
In a Sentence:
- Honest politicians are as rare as hen’s teeth these days.
- Finding a parking spot downtown on a Saturday is as rare as hen’s teeth.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely scarce, Nearly impossible to find
3. Once in a Lifetime
Meaning: An opportunity or experience that happens only once in a person’s entire life
In a Sentence:
- Meeting your favorite celebrity is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
- Their trip to Antarctica was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Other Ways to Say: Unique chance, Unrepeatable experience
4. Few and Far Between
Meaning: Not happening often or existing in very small numbers
In a Sentence:
- Good job opportunities in this small town are few and far between.
- Rainy days in the desert are few and far between.
Other Ways to Say: Uncommon, Scarce
5. Like Finding a Needle in a Haystack
Meaning: Extremely difficult or nearly impossible to find
In a Sentence:
- Searching for my lost ring in the sand was like finding a needle in a haystack.
- Finding a reliable contractor these days is like finding a needle in a haystack.
Other Ways to Say: Nearly impossible to locate, Extremely difficult to find
6. One in a Million
Meaning: Exceptionally rare, special, or unique
In a Sentence:
- A friend who always supports you is one in a million.
- This vintage car in mint condition is truly one in a million.
Other Ways to Say: Exceptional, Extraordinarily rare
7. A Rare Gem
Meaning: Something or someone very special and hard to find
In a Sentence:
- This little bookstore in the city is a rare gem that few people know about.
- Her grandmother’s handwritten recipes are rare gems that she treasures.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden treasure, Precious find
8. A Rare Bird
Meaning: An unusual person or thing, especially due to unique characteristics
In a Sentence:
- He’s a rare bird in the business world—honest and compassionate.
- That restaurant is a rare bird, serving authentic cuisine in an unexpected location.
Other Ways to Say: Unusual person, One of a kind
9. As Rare as a Four-Leaf Clover
Meaning: Very uncommon or difficult to find (four-leaf clovers occur in about 1 in 5,000 clovers)
In a Sentence:
- True love like theirs is as rare as a four-leaf clover.
- A high school student who doesn’t own a phone is as rare as a four-leaf clover.
Other Ways to Say: Very uncommon, Exceptionally rare
10. One of a Kind
Meaning: Completely unique with no others like it
In a Sentence:
- Her handmade pottery is truly one of a kind.
- My grandfather’s sense of humor is one of a kind; nobody can match it.
Other Ways to Say: Unique, Incomparable
11. Lightning Never Strikes Twice
Meaning: A rare event is unlikely to happen again in the same way
In a Sentence:
- We won the lottery once, but lightning never strikes twice.
- He survived two plane crashes, proving that lightning never strikes twice isn’t always true.
Other Ways to Say: Unlikely to repeat, Won’t happen again
12. The Exception, Not the Rule
Meaning: Something that happens rarely and is not typical
In a Sentence:
- Getting a promotion without years of experience is the exception, not the rule.
- Snow in May here is the exception, not the rule.
Other Ways to Say: Unusual occurrence, Not typical
13. Hard to Come By
Meaning: Difficult to find or obtain
In a Sentence:
- Affordable housing in this city is hard to come by.
- Loyal friends like her are hard to come by these days.
Other Ways to Say: Difficult to obtain, Scarce
14. A Diamond in the Rough
Meaning: Someone or something with hidden potential or value that needs refinement
In a Sentence:
- That old house is a diamond in the rough; it just needs some renovation.
- The new employee is a diamond in the rough with great potential.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden gem, Unpolished talent
15. Break the Mold
Meaning: To be completely different and unique from everyone else
In a Sentence:
- Her innovative approach to teaching really breaks the mold.
- This new smartphone design breaks the mold with its unique features.
Other Ways to Say: Be unique, Set new standards
16. In a League of Its Own
Meaning: So exceptional that nothing else compares
In a Sentence:
- When it comes to customer service, this company is in a league of its own.
- Her artistic talent is in a league of its own compared to her peers.
Other Ways to Say: Unmatched, Superior to all others
17. Stand Out from the Crowd
Meaning: To be noticeably different or better than others
In a Sentence:
- His creative resume really stood out from the crowd during the hiring process.
- This restaurant stands out from the crowd with its innovative menu.
Other Ways to Say: Be distinctive, Be exceptional
18. Not a Dime a Dozen
Meaning: Not common or easily found; valuable and rare
In a Sentence:
- Skilled craftsmen like him are not a dime a dozen anymore.
- Original antiques in good condition are not a dime a dozen.
Other Ways to Say: Not common, Valuable and scarce
19. Out of the Blue
Meaning: Something that happens unexpectedly and rarely
In a Sentence:
- His job offer came out of the blue when he wasn’t even looking.
- The storm appeared out of the blue without any warning.
Other Ways to Say: Unexpectedly, Suddenly and rarely
20. A Blast from the Past
Meaning: Something rare that reminds you of earlier times
In a Sentence:
- Finding my old diary was a real blast from the past.
- Running into my elementary school teacher was a blast from the past.
Other Ways to Say: Nostalgic reminder, Rare memory
21. Like Winning the Lottery
Meaning: An extremely lucky and rare event
In a Sentence:
- Getting accepted into Harvard was like winning the lottery for him.
- Finding a great apartment in this market is like winning the lottery.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely lucky, Incredibly fortunate
22. Against All Odds
Meaning: Succeeding despite very low probability
In a Sentence:
- Against all odds, they survived the shipwreck.
- She became a doctor against all odds after growing up in poverty.
Other Ways to Say: Despite low chances, Improbably
23. Like Catching a Unicorn
Meaning: Trying to find something that’s almost mythically rare
In a Sentence:
- Finding a house in this neighborhood under budget is like catching a unicorn.
- Getting tickets to that sold-out concert is like catching a unicorn.
Other Ways to Say: Nearly impossible, Fantastically rare
24. As Scarce as Snow in July
Meaning: Extremely rare or practically nonexistent
In a Sentence:
- Good news in this town is as scarce as snow in July.
- Parking spots near the beach in summer are as scarce as snow in July.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely uncommon, Nearly impossible
25. A Lucky Break
Meaning: A rare fortunate opportunity
In a Sentence:
- Getting discovered by a talent agent was her lucky break.
- That job interview was the lucky break he needed to start his career.
Other Ways to Say: Fortunate opportunity, Rare chance
26. Scattered and Rare
Meaning: Existing in very small amounts across different places
In a Sentence:
- Gas stations in this rural area are scattered and rare.
- Wildlife sightings in winter are scattered and rare here.
Other Ways to Say: Sparse, Infrequent
27. Not Something You See Every Day
Meaning: An unusual or rare occurrence
In a Sentence:
- A double rainbow over the mountains is not something you see every day.
- Someone helping a stranger with car trouble is not something you see every day.
Other Ways to Say: Uncommon sight, Unusual event
28. Worth Its Weight in Gold
Meaning: Extremely valuable and rare
In a Sentence:
- Her experience in this field is worth its weight in gold.
- Good advice from a mentor is worth its weight in gold.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely valuable, Precious
29. An Odd Duck
Meaning: A person who is rare or unusual in their behavior or characteristics
In a Sentence:
- He’s an odd duck who collects vintage typewriters, but he’s really kind.
- She’s an odd duck in the corporate world because she values honesty over profit.
Other Ways to Say: Unusual person, Quirky individual
30. Rarer Than Gold Dust
Meaning: Exceptionally rare and valuable
In a Sentence:
- Authentic vintage guitars are rarer than gold dust in today’s market.
- Teachers who inspire every student are rarer than gold dust.
Other Ways to Say: Exceptionally scarce, Extremely valuable
31. Like Pulling Teeth
Meaning: Extremely difficult to accomplish; a rare success
In a Sentence:
- Getting him to help with chores is like pulling teeth.
- Extracting information from her is like pulling teeth.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely difficult, Nearly impossible
32. Thin on the Ground
Meaning: Scarce or not available in large numbers
In a Sentence:
- Experienced engineers are thin on the ground right now.
- Good restaurants in this town are thin on the ground.
Other Ways to Say: Scarce, In short supply
33. A Shot in the Dark
Meaning: A rare attempt with little chance of success
In a Sentence:
- Applying for that competitive position was a shot in the dark, but it worked!
- His guess was just a shot in the dark, yet surprisingly accurate.
Other Ways to Say: Wild guess, Unlikely attempt
34. A White Crow
Meaning: Something extremely rare or unusual (from the Latin “rara avis”)
In a Sentence:
- An honest lawyer is like a white crow in this city.
- Finding someone with both artistic talent and business skills is like finding a white crow.
Other Ways to Say: Rare phenomenon, Unusual find
35. Once in a Coon’s Age
Meaning: A very long time; something that happens very rarely
In a Sentence:
- I haven’t seen him in a coon’s age; it must be ten years!
- We only have family reunions once in a coon’s age.
Other Ways to Say: Very rarely, After a long time
36. As Rare as Rocking Horse Manure
Meaning: Extremely rare or nonexistent (British idiom)
In a Sentence:
- Politicians who keep their promises are as rare as rocking horse manure.
- Affordable apartments in London are as rare as rocking horse manure.
Other Ways to Say: Virtually nonexistent, Extremely rare
Read This Blog: 50+ Idioms for Candy With Meanings and Examples
37. A Golden Opportunity
Meaning: A rare and valuable chance
In a Sentence:
- This internship is a golden opportunity to learn from the best.
- Meeting the CEO was a golden opportunity to pitch my idea.
Other Ways to Say: Precious chance, Rare opportunity
38. A Sight to Behold
Meaning: Something remarkable and rare to see
In a Sentence:
- The Grand Canyon at sunrise is truly a sight to behold.
- Her performance on stage was a sight to behold.
Other Ways to Say: Remarkable sight, Impressive view
39. Blue Sky Thinking
Meaning: Rare, creative ideas without limitations
In a Sentence:
- The brainstorming session encouraged blue sky thinking about future products.
- His blue sky thinking led to an innovative solution nobody had considered.
Other Ways to Say: Creative thinking, Unlimited imagination
40. Catch Lightning in a Bottle
Meaning: To capture something rare and fleeting
In a Sentence:
- Their first album was magic; they’re trying to catch lightning in a bottle again.
- That viral video success was like catching lightning in a bottle.
Other Ways to Say: Capture rare magic, Recreate rare success
41. A Flash in the Pan
Meaning: Something that shows promise briefly but is rarely sustainable
In a Sentence:
- His initial success turned out to be just a flash in the pan.
- We hope this isn’t just a flash in the pan but a lasting improvement.
Other Ways to Say: Brief success, Short-lived phenomenon
42. Not Every Day
Meaning: Something that doesn’t happen frequently
In a Sentence:
- You don’t get to meet a Nobel Prize winner every day.
- It’s not every day you find such a great deal on a car.
Other Ways to Say: Rarely, Infrequently
43. A Rare Treat
Meaning: Something special that doesn’t happen often
In a Sentence:
- Going to a fancy restaurant is a rare treat for our family.
- Having a snow day off from school was a rare treat.
Other Ways to Say: Special occasion, Uncommon pleasure
44. Precious Few
Meaning: Very few in number; rare
In a Sentence:
- There are precious few honest mechanics left in this business.
- We have precious few opportunities to make things right.
Other Ways to Say: Very few, Hardly any
45. Seldom Seen
Meaning: Rarely observed or encountered
In a Sentence:
- Eagles are seldom seen in this part of the country.
- Such dedication to craft is seldom seen in modern workers.
Other Ways to Say: Rarely encountered, Infrequently observed
46. A Rare Occurrence
Meaning: An event that happens infrequently
In a Sentence:
- Earthquakes in this region are a rare occurrence.
- Him admitting he was wrong is a rare occurrence.
Other Ways to Say: Uncommon event, Infrequent happening
47. As Rare as Diamonds
Meaning: Very precious and uncommon
In a Sentence:
- True friendship is as rare as diamonds in this competitive world.
- Original manuscripts from that author are as rare as diamonds.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely precious, Very uncommon
48. Not Often
Meaning: Happening rarely or infrequently
In a Sentence:
- We don’t go out for dinner together not often anymore due to our schedules.
- It’s not often you find someone so dedicated to helping others.
Other Ways to Say: Rarely, Infrequently
49. A Rare Find
Meaning: Something valuable that is difficult to discover
In a Sentence:
- This antique clock at the garage sale was a rare find.
- A employee who exceeds expectations is a rare find.
Other Ways to Say: Valuable discovery, Uncommon treasure
50. Scarce as Truth
Meaning: Extremely rare or hard to find
In a Sentence:
- Honest advertising is as scarce as truth these days.
- Original ideas in Hollywood are scarce as truth.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely rare, Hard to find
51. A Rare Breed
Meaning: A unique type of person or thing
In a Sentence:
- Teachers who inspire students to love learning are a rare breed.
- Craftsmen who build furniture by hand are a rare breed today.
Other Ways to Say: Unique type, Special kind
52. Like Gold Dust
Meaning: Extremely valuable and scarce
In a Sentence:
- Parking spaces downtown are like gold dust during rush hour.
- Apartments in this neighborhood are like gold dust—they’re gone immediately.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely scarce, Highly valuable
53. A Rarity
Meaning: Something that is rare or unusual
In a Sentence:
- Seeing him smile is such a rarity that everyone notices.
- Fresh produce in winter was a rarity before modern transportation.
Other Ways to Say: Uncommon thing, Unusual occurrence
54. Far and Few Between
Meaning: Not occurring very often; scattered and rare
In a Sentence:
- Good movies this year have been far and few between.
- His visits to the office are far and few between since he works remotely.
Other Ways to Say: Scattered, Infrequent
55. A Unique Find
Meaning: Something special and one-of-a-kind that’s rare to discover
In a Sentence:
- This vintage dress at the thrift store was a unique find.
- The rare mineral specimens in this cave are unique finds.
Other Ways to Say: One-of-a-kind discovery, Special find
56. Not in a Month of Sundays
Meaning: Extremely unlikely to happen; very rare
In a Sentence:
- He won’t finish that project not in a month of Sundays.
- You won’t convince her to change her mind not in a month of Sundays.
Other Ways to Say: Not likely to happen, Extremely rare
57. As Scarce as Chicken Lips
Meaning: Completely nonexistent or extremely rare (chickens don’t have lips)
In a Sentence:
- Parking near the stadium on game day is as scarce as chicken lips.
- Common sense in politics is as scarce as chicken lips.
Other Ways to Say: Nonexistent, Extremely rare
58. A Long Shot
Meaning: Something with a very low probability of success; a rare outcome
In a Sentence:
- Getting the scholarship was a long shot, but she applied anyway.
- Winning the championship this year is a long shot for our team.
Other Ways to Say: Unlikely outcome, Low probability
59. Hardly Ever
Meaning: Almost never; very rarely
In a Sentence:
- We hardly ever see each other since we moved to different cities.
- He hardly ever makes mistakes in his work.
Other Ways to Say: Very rarely, Almost never
60. A Stroke of Luck
Meaning: A rare fortunate event
In a Sentence:
- Finding that job posting was a stroke of luck at the perfect time.
- Meeting her mentor at the conference was a stroke of luck.
Other Ways to Say: Fortunate coincidence, Lucky occurrence
61. A Rare Delight
Meaning: Something that brings joy and doesn’t happen often
In a Sentence:
- Spending time with old friends is a rare delight in our busy lives.
- Finding a handwritten letter in the mailbox is a rare delight nowadays.
Other Ways to Say: Uncommon pleasure, Special joy
62. As Rare as a Blue Diamond
Meaning: Exceptionally rare and precious
In a Sentence:
- Leaders with true integrity are as rare as a blue diamond.
- That vintage car model is as rare as a blue diamond in today’s market.
Other Ways to Say: Exceptionally rare, Extremely precious
How to Use These Idioms in Conversation?
Now that you’ve learned these 60+ idioms for rare, here are some tips for using them naturally:
- Context is Key: Choose idioms that fit the situation. “Once in a blue moon” works great for casual conversation, while “a rare occurrence” might be better for formal writing.
- Don’t Overdo It: Using too many idioms can make your speech sound unnatural. Use them sparingly for maximum impact.
- Match Your Audience: Some idioms are more common in certain regions. “As rare as rocking horse manure” is British, while “once in a coon’s age” is American Southern dialect.
- Practice Makes Perfect: Try incorporating one or two new idioms into your daily conversations to make them part of your natural vocabulary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best idioms for a rare person?
Common idioms include “one of a kind,” “a rare bird,” and “diamond in the rough,” all used for someone uncommon or special.
Which idioms are used for rare love?
Idioms like “once in a lifetime,” “one in a million,” and “lightning in a bottle” describe love that is very rare and special.
What does “as rare as hen’s teeth” mean?
It means something is extremely rare or almost impossible to find.
What are some funny “as rare as” sayings?
Funny examples include “as rare as hen’s teeth” and “as rare as snow in summer,” both used to exaggerate rarity.
Which idioms are used for something that happens very rarely?
“Once in a blue moon” and “few and far between” are the most common idioms for rare events.
What are simple idioms for rarely in English?
Idioms like “hardly ever,” “once in a blue moon,” and “not often” are widely used in daily English.
What idiom means something is very hard to find?
“Needle in a haystack” is used when something is rare and difficult to locate.
What are common rare idioms in English?
Popular rare idioms include “one in a million,” “hidden gem,” and “like gold dust.”
Conclusion
Mastering idioms for rare will enrich your English vocabulary and help you communicate more effectively and colorfully. Whether you’re describing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, commenting on something as scarce as hen’s teeth, or talking about a rare gem you discovered, these expressions will add depth and personality to your language.
Remember, learning idioms is not just about memorizing phrases; it’s about understanding the culture and creativity behind the language. Each idiom tells a story and carries centuries of usage and meaning.
Keep practicing, and soon these idioms will feel as natural as your everyday speech. Don’t let opportunities to use them be as rare as hen’s teeth; start incorporating them into your conversations today!
