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Region: General | Usage example: Her generosity felt like one in a million.

One in a million

Meaning

Exceptionally rare or special.

Usage

Used when praising unique individuals or moments.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Suggests small odds compared to a million.

Popularized in American speech during the 20th century.

Related Idioms

Feel like a million dollars

Feel extremely well.

Not in a million years

Absolutely never.

Dime a dozen

Very common and not special.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.