rare breed
One of few
A rare breed is literally an uncommon variety of livestock or domesticated animal, often preserved for genetic diversity or heritage value.
More commonly, the phrase describes an unusual type of person—someone whose qualities or characteristics set them apart: Honest politicians are a rare breed.
The implication is usually admiring, suggesting the person possesses virtues others lack.
- purebredOf single breed ancestry
- selective breedingControlled reproduction for traits
- virtuosoSupremely accomplished performer
- trailblazerFirst to forge ahead
- iconoclastAttacker of cherished beliefs
cut from different cloth · old school · genetic mutation · maverick · unicorn · visionary · one of a kind · one in a million · pioneer · rarity · uniqueness · endangered species · prodigy · polymath · exceptionality · pedigree · anomaly · heirloom plants
- dog typespurebred, crossbreed, mongrel, mutt, pedigree
- rarityscarce, uncommon, infrequent, scant, few
- breedingselective breeding, breeder, crossbreeding, mating, breeding pair
- achieversachiever, high achiever, overachiever, go-getter, striver
- eliteelite, elites, aristocrats, nobility, best
rare breeddime a dozen
Abundant and unremarkable
a dime a dozen · commonplace · garden variety · common as dirt · run of the mill
rare breedaverage Joe
Unremarkable common person
nothing special · mediocrity · plain vanilla · faceless crowd · standard model
rare breedaverage Joe
Unremarkable common person
nobody special · generic · cookie-cutter · nothing special · plain vanilla