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One in a million

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

One in a million|Idiomatic Phrase|Extremely rare, unique, or special; describes someone or something of exceptional quality, beauty, or value that stands out distinctly from the ordinary.

Detailed Definition
One in a million means exceptionally rare, valuable, admirable, or unique. In poetry, the idiom can express praise for a beloved, friend, child, chance, or moment that seems almost impossible to duplicate. Its numerical exaggeration makes uniqueness measurable while still emotional. A poet may use it sincerely in celebration, or ironically when stock praise sounds too easy. The phrase is useful for exploring rarity, gratitude, idealisation, and the human wish to distinguish one face or event from the crowd.
Example
Example in poetry:
A love poem might say the beloved is one in a million, not because she is perfect but because she is herself; In an elegy, a friend described as one in a million becomes irreplaceable in memory; The phrase means exceptionally rare or special; A poet can use it for praise, gratitude, or loss.
Additional Notes
One in a million means exceptionally rare, special, or unlikely. In poetry, it can express love, gratitude, uniqueness, chance, or statistical wonder. The idiom combines emotional valuation with numerical vastness, making one person or event stand out against an immense background. Students should notice how it can be sincere or clichéd depending on detail. Fresh imagery can make the rarity felt rather than merely stated.
Also Known As
rare
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