Reader question:

Please explain “one of a kind” in this sentence: This is a truly one-of-a-kind single malt.

My comments:

Single-malt, first of all, refers to a kind or type of whiskey that’s made from a single malted barley instead of multiple grains. In case of the latter, the whiskey is known as blended whiskey, i.e. a mixture.

“This is a truly one-of-a-kind single malt” means this single malt whiskey is unique.

Unique as in singular, different from all other single malts.

Hence, it’s one of a kind.

And that literally means it’s the only one of its kind.

To use another idiom, this one is in a class of its own.

It is that good.

Usually, when we talk about kinds, we mean types of people or things grouped together. We group them together because there are a lot of them and they all share the same traits or characteristics.

We talk of white people or black people, for example. They’re different kinds because of the color of their skin. Namely all white people share the same pale color of skin whereas black people all have dark skin.

Here, obviously, we’re talking about their commonalities, not their individual singularities or uniqueness.

Back to our whiskey example.

For people who are only beginning to drink, all whiskeys taste the same, strong and pungent. Seasoned drinkers, on the other hand, can tell that each bottle is different.

Apparently the person who opines “this is a truly one-of-a-kind single malt” can tell the subtle differences that make this particular whiskey truly unique, different from all other single malts.

In other words, this single malt is one of a kind. It is the only member of its kind.

To wit, this is singular.

Singular, as in extraordinary.

Exceptionally so.

As a matter of fact, we only need to read a few media examples to get a full grasp of “one of a kind”.

And, no more ado, here they are:

1. Legendary WWE star The Iron Sheik has died at age 81.

The WWE Hall of Famer’s representatives announced the former WWF World Heavyweight Champion’s death in a statement on social media.

“Today, we gather with heavy hearts to bid farewell to a true legend, a force of nature, and an iconic figure who left an incredible mark on the world of professional wrestling,” the statement reads. “It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of The Iron Sheik, but we also take solace in knowing that he departed this world peacefully, leaving behind a legacy that will endure for generations to come.”

He is survived by his wife Caryl Peterson, whom he married in 1976, as well as his children Tanya, Nikki, Marissa and son-in-law Eddie. Sheik also had five grandchildren and two nephews.

The Iron Sheik, whose real name was Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 after an in-ring career that spanned four decades, starting in 1972.

“WWE is saddened to hear of the passing of WWE Hall of Famer The Iron Sheik, and extends its condolences to his family, friends, and fans,” the promotion said Wednesday afternoon.

…

Born in Damghan, Iran, a young Sheik first excelled at amateur wrestling, competing for Iran’s national team at the 1968 Summer Olympics. He later served as an assistant coach on the U.S. national team at the 1972 Summer Games in Munich. Soon after, the future WWE Hall of Fame wrestler and wrestling promoter Verne Gagne recruited the Iranian athlete to join his American Wrestling Association promotion in Minneapolis.

There, Sheik learned how to become a pro wrestler and worked with the likes of Ricky Steamboat and famed Japanese heavyweight Antonio Inoki before leaving to join the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). His “Camel Clutch” finishing maneuver is still used in the ring today by several stars across professional wrestling.

“He was a great performer! Wrestlers should continue to study his body of work,” current WWE star Drew Gulak tweeted, sharing his condolences.

The pinnacle of Sheik’s career came in 1983 when he defeated WWE Hall of Famer Bob Backlund – who is regarded as one of pro wrestling’s greatest world champions – for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship in the main event at Madison Square Garden. Sheik’s victory over Backlund, who held the title since 1978, ended the second-longest world title reign in WWE history. Sheik later lost the title to Hogan, which boosted the blonde-haired bodybuilder into stardom.

“Khosrow Vaziri was truly one of a kind,” tweeted Mick Foley, a fellow WWE Hall of Famer who was in attendance as a kid at Sheik’s 1983 championship match.

“There will never be another Iron Sheik,” tweeted wrestling commentator Ian Riccaboni. “The world, not just wrestling, was better for having Sheik here.”

- The Iron Sheik, WWE Legend and Hall of Famer, Dead at 81: ‘Truly One of a Kind’, People.com, June 7, 2023.

2. Sharon Stone truly is one of a kind when it comes to her persona both on-screen and off, revolutionizing the “femme fatale” archetype in cinema while remaining a steadfast advocate and creative in real life.

The actress, 65, spoke with Air Mail about her home life and routine before bedtime, and proved that once again, she has traits like no other.

When asked if she had any pre-bed rituals, she explained: “My main rituals are to treat myself well and to talk to myself well.”

She then added, though, that the same treatment also extended to her paintings, having taken up art even more fervently in recent years than ever before.

“I talk to my paintings like they're living beings,” Sharon revealed to the publication. “I feel like they are. In a way, it’s also like talking to myself.

“I tell my paintings how beautiful they are and how great they’re doing. Like: Oh, you’re so beautiful. Oh, my God, look what you’re doing, I didn’t know you were going to do that, you little sexy minx.”

- Sharon Stone reveals her unconventional nighttime ritual at 65 – and it’s really one of a kind, HelloMagazine.com, March 6, 2024.

3. When President Joe Biden needs advice, there are two people he can turn to who know what it’s like to sit in his chair. Sometimes he will invite Barack Obama over to the White House for a meal or he will get on the phone with Bill Clinton.

The three men share decades of history at the pinnacle of American and Democratic leadership, making them an unusual trio in presidential history. Although there has sometimes been friction as their ambitions and agendas have diverged, they have spent years building toward a similar vision for the country.

On Thursday, their partnership will be on display in what has been described as a one-of-a-kind fundraising extravaganza in New York City to help Biden build on his already significant cash advantage in this year’s presidential election. It’s a dramatic show of force intended to rally the Democratic Party faithful to secure a second term for Biden despite his stubbornly low poll numbers and doubts due to his age (81).

“There is everything to be gained by Joe Biden standing next to Bill Clinton and Barack Obama,” said Leon Panetta, who worked in the administrations of both former presidents. “That picture is worth a hell of a lot in politics today.”

The display of solidarity is a sharp contrast to Donald Trump’s isolation from other Republican leaders.

Although Trump has solidified his grip on his party on the way to becoming the presumptive nominee, not even his own former vice president, Mike Pence, is willing to endorse Trump’s bid for another White House term. The only other living Republican president, George W. Bush, is not a supporter, either.

- Biden leans on his Democratic predecessors as Trump remains isolated from other Republican leaders, AP, March 28, 2024.

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About the author:

Zhang Xin is Trainer at chinadaily.com.cn. He has been with China Daily since 1988, when he graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Write him at: zhangxin@chinadaily.com.cn, or raise a question for potential use in a future column.

（作者：張欣  編輯：丹妮）