few and far between
Sparse and infrequent
Scattered or rare, with long gaps between occurrences.
The phrase emphasizes scarcity through redundancy—few already implies rarity, and far between reinforces the distance separating instances: Good restaurants are few and far between in this town.
Almost always follows a linking verb.
Happening at intervals
- sporadicOccurring irregularly, infrequently
- intermittentOccurring at irregular intervals
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
- uncommonSeldom occurring or found
rare · episodic · periodic · erratic · isolated · discontinuous · scattered · patchy
Deficient supply of necessities
- dearthAcute shortage of something
- paucityInsufficiency of amount
- deficitAmount still owed
- lackDeficiency or absence
scantiness · insufficiency · undersupply · meagerness · sparseness · rarity · drought · famine
Spread irregularly about
- spread outExtended over distance
- dispersedSpread widely apart
- distantFar away or aloof
- isolatedSeparated from others
separated · spaced out · far-flung · remote · wide apart · dotted · strewn · interspersed
Highly esteemed, greatly valued
- cherishedHeld dear, prized
- treasuredRegarded with deep affection
- prizedGreatly valued or esteemed
- covetedGreatly desired by many
sought-after · hard to find · elusive · exclusive · special · unique · collectible · in demand
occasional
Happening at intervals
- sporadicOccurring irregularly, infrequently
- intermittentOccurring at irregular intervals
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
uncommon · rare · episodic · periodic · erratic · isolated · discontinuous · scattered · patchy · fitful
shortage
Deficient supply of necessities
lack · scantiness · insufficiency · undersupply · meagerness · sparseness · rarity · drought · famine · depletion
scattered
Spread irregularly about
- spread outExtended over distance
- dispersedSpread widely apart
- distantFar away or aloof
isolated · separated · spaced out · far-flung · remote · wide apart · dotted · strewn · interspersed · here and there
precious
Highly esteemed, greatly valued
coveted · sought-after · hard to find · elusive · exclusive · special · unique · collectible · in demand · desirable
- infrequencyrarely, seldom, infrequent, infrequently, occasionally
- phrasesnoun phrases, noun phrase, verb phrase, prepositional phrase, prepositional phrases
- rarityrare, scarce, uncommon, infrequent, scant
- Running Lowrunning low, in short supply, running out, dried up, at a premium
- needle in a haystackhidden gem, diamond in the rough, buried treasure, rare find, one in a million
few and far betweenabundant
Existing in great quantity
plentiful · common · ubiquitous · frequent · numerous
few and far betweenthick on the ground
Numerous and widespread
close together · clustered · bunched · concentrated · packed in
between, faraway, farther, farthest, fewest, farness, fewness