Idiom
Small world.
An exclamation used to express surprise at an unexpected connection or coincidence.
Meanings
Used as an exclamation to express surprise when you find out that you have an unexpected connection with someone, or when you encounter a surprising coincidence.
Definition
The idiom "small world" is an interjection uttered when you discover an unexpected connection between people or events. It highlights the surprising fact that despite the vastness of the world, people often encounter others with shared acquaintances or experiences. It's commonly used when two people realize they know a third person in common, or have visited the same obscure place at different times.
Examples
- You know Sarah, too? Small world! We went to high school together.
- I just found out my new neighbor used to live in the same town as my aunt. Small world, isn't it?
- We met on vacation in Thailand, and now we're both working at the same company. Small world!
- He mentioned he grew up in a tiny village in France, and it turns out my grandmother was from there too. Small world!
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use "small world" to describe a physically confined or small place, rather than an unexpected connection between people or events.
Learn this in a path
More at B2 level
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- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More interjections
- Long time no see. An informal greeting used when meeting someone after a long period of not seeing them.
- Fingers crossed. An expression used to show hope for good luck or a positive outcome.
- That's putting it mildly. Used to state that a previous remark or description was a significant understatement.