Ways of Saying that Something Is Unusual

Ways of Saying that Something Is Unusual

Hi English learners. Welcome to a new lesson. We will be talking about ways of saying that something is unusual.

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Ways of saying that something is unusual:

• Distinctive
• Exotic
• Extraordinary
• Odd
• One of a kind
• Out of the ordinary
• Peculiar
• Stand out like a sore thumb
• Unconventional

Distinctive

Meaning: to be different from others in the sense that it is easily noticed or recognized, characteristic.

• People often call Mars a red planet because of its distinctive red colour.
• That pasta you always make has a distinctive taste. 
• That fish has a distinctive stripe down its tale.

Exotic

Meaning: unusual and interesting, coming from a foreign country.

• We watched some exotic dance last night.
• Lucy has always been different. For example, she likes wearing exotic clothes or eating exotic food.
• We are going to spend a holiday on an exotic island in the Maldives.

Extraordinary

Meaning: strange, surprising and rare.

• Isn’t it extraordinary that Simon can sleep during a very noisy party?
• They want to make a hotel in the middle of a desert. Isn’t that an extraordinary idea?
• That frog has teeth. How extraordinary!

Odd

Meaning: strange and unusual.

• Our neighbours are a bit odd. They rarely have any friends or visitors round.
• It is an odd thing to say.
• I remember Helen wearing odd socks back in high school.

One of a kind

Meaning: very rare or unusual.

• Mary is a very unusual woman – one of a kind.
• This strange flower is one of a kind.

Out of the ordinary

Meaning: different or unusual, beyond one’s expectations. You will often hear that something is nothing out of the ordinary, which means that it is not unusual.

• Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary in Robert’s behaviour?
• We had a nice lunch in a luxury hotel in Paris but nothing out of the ordinary though.

Peculiar

Meaning: strange or unusual, often in an unpleasant way.

• The mushrooms taste a bit peculiar. Are you sure they were fresh?
• There was something peculiar in the way the actor talked.
• The victim died in rather peculiar circumstances.

Stand/stick out like a sore thumb

Meaning: used to describe someone different from the people around them and therefore noticeable.

• You shouldn’t wear a suit to that party because you’ll stand out like a sore thumb. Everyone will be wearing casual clothes.
• That tall man sticks out like a sore thumb in that crowd of people.

Unconventional

Meaning: different from what is considered usual.

• They produced the medicine by an unconventional method.
• Maria had a rather unconventional approach toward her work.
• David had a bit of an unconventional study habit, preferring to study at night.

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