few and far between

1. At wide intervals, scarce, as in Supporters of the amendment are few and far between. This expression originally was used very literally for physical objects such as houses appearing at widely separated intervals. Today it is also used more loosely. [Mid-1600s]

Example Sentences

In a city of millions of people who walk most places and where free public restrooms are few and far between, REI Soho is a beloved spot to do your business—but not necessarily the revenue-generating kind.

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The October aces — the starting pitchers that can put their team on their back and carry it through the postseason — are few and far between.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"In my 20 years as a player, they were few and far between and he has to be right up there."

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There were some carers who strove to make the lives of residents better and who managed to carve out time in their busy days to engage but those moments were few and far between.

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Attractive rivals are also few and far between.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• extraordinary 
• limited 
• occasional 
• scarce 
• singular 
• strange 
• subtle 
• uncommon 
• unique 
• unlikely 
• unthinkable 
• unusual