once in a lifetime

Idioms  

1. Extremely rare, especially as an opportunity. For example, An offer like that will come just once in a lifetime. This phrase, often used hyperbolically, was first recorded in 1854. Also see of one's life.

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Example Sentences

"I am so grateful on behalf of all of the families I serve for the gift of allowing children from his old school to be part of an event that for some will be a once in a lifetime experience."

From BBC

Paying tribute to Knight, Murphy added: "To have that level of writing for that length of time, you know, it's a once in a lifetime freak occurrence to meet a writer at the top of his game like that."

From BBC

Jack had told her that sometimes, once in a lifetime or so, a coconut could make a pearl just the same way an oyster did, but Nim had never thought she’d see one.

From Literature

"The big thing we need to do is keep educating the corporates to support female employees in the workplace - and not just once in a lifetime," she added.

From BBC

"I've heard from everyone that after I landed my backflip, he was standing there, hands on his head, and I was like, 'Oh, my God. That's incredible'. That's a once in a lifetime moment seeing a famous tennis player watching my performance."

From Barron's

Related Words

• unbelievable