Rare vs You don't find that every day

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Rare

Top 2,000 (common)B1adjective

You don't find that every day

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Rare
 RareYou don't find that every day
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/reə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rer/"]/🇬🇧 //juː dəʊnt faɪnd ðæt ˈɛvri deɪ//🇺🇸 //ju doʊnt faɪnd ðæt ˈɛvri deɪ//
Meaningnot common or usualIt's not something you see or experience often.
ExampleThe museum has a collection of rare artifacts from ancient civilizations.Finding a four-leaf clover is something you don't find that every day.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsbe, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very, be, seem, become, extremely, fairly, verynot find that often, experience that regularly, see that frequently, discover that often, encounter that daily
Antonymscommon, usual, frequent-
Common mistakesConfusing 'rare' with 'rarely', which has a different meaning., Using 'rare' to describe frequency instead of quality., Misplacing 'rare' in sentences, leading to unclear meaning.Used incorrectly in formal writing when a direct quote is preferred., Misused to convey negativity rather than surprise., Omitted necessary context leading to confusion.
Usage notesUsed to describe something that is not often found or experienced. Suitable in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using in very informal situations.Use this phrase to express surprise or uniqueness. Appropriate in casual conversation, but can also be used in more formal contexts.

See it in real clips

Rare
You don't find that every day

Frequently asked questions: Rare vs You don't find that every day

What's the difference between Rare and You don't find that every day?

Rare: not common or usual You don't find that every day: It's not something you see or experience often.

Which is more common: Rare and You don't find that every day?

Rare is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Rare: The museum has a collection of rare artifacts from ancient civilizations. You don't find that every day: Finding a four-leaf clover is something you don't find that every day.

Can I use Rare and You don't find that every day interchangeably?

Not always. Rare and You don't find that every day are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

Related comparisons