Meaning & use
second to none
Last updated
UK/ˌsekənd tə ˈnʌn/
US/ˌsekənd tə ˈnʌn/
Meaning
phraseidiom
Better than every other of its kind; the very best.
Grammar: Used after a verb or noun: the food is second to none.
Patterns
- be second to none
- something second to none
The hotel's view of the harbour is second to none.
Her knowledge of local history is second to none.
The school's music programme is second to none in the region.
Common combinations
- service is second to none
- The restaurant claims its service is second to none.
- quality second to none
- They sell furniture of quality second to none.
- second to none in the world
- Our engineers are second to none in the world.
- skill second to none
- He plays with a skill second to none.
Synonyms and how they differ
- unrivaled
- Unrivaled is a single adjective and a little more formal, while second to none is an idiom with a conversational feel.
- unmatched
- Unmatched stresses that nothing equals it, whereas second to none says nothing ranks higher.
- the best
- The best is plain and can be disputed, while second to none sounds like confident praise.
Opposites
second-ratemediocre
Word family
- second adjective
- next after the first
- second-rate adjective
- of poor quality
- second best adjective
- next after the best
- unsurpassed adjective
- never beaten in quality
Commonly confused: second to none or par for the course?
second to none vs par for the course
Par for the course means normal or expected, which is very different from second to none.
Practice
If a review says the pasta is 'second to none', what does it mean?
Choose one answer.
Second to none means nothing is better. It is not about being second, being ordered or being free.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “second to none”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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