Reading Theme:
Greatest of All Time: Definition and Examples
Meaning 1：the best ever (Greatest of All Time)
Greatest of All Time
/ˈɡreɪtɪst əv ɔːl taɪm/
phr.
The best person or thing that has ever existed in a particular field, especially in sports or entertainment.
the best ever
➕
/ðə bɛst ˈɛvər/
phr.
A phrase used to describe someone or something that is considered the most excellent or outstanding in history.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
The superlative 'greatest' combined with the fixed phrase 'of all time' indicating a historical scope.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of a GOAT (animal) standing on a podium: the Greatest Of All Time.
📖 Example
When we watched the tennis finals in my living room, all my friends agreed that Serena Williams is the Greatest of All Time in women's tennis.
When we watched the tennis finals in my living room, all my friends agreed that Serena Williams is the Greatest of All Time in women's tennis.
🔗 Collocations
be considered the greatest of all time – To be seen as the best ever in a particular domain.
name someone the greatest of all time – To declare that person as the most outstanding in history.
the undisputed greatest of all time – Acknowledged by everyone as the best that has ever existed.
🔄 Synonyms
the best ever (phr.) – A phrase meaning the most excellent in all of history.
the top dog (phr.) – A colloquial term for the most important or successful person.
the ultimate (adj./n.) – The highest or most extreme example of something.
🚫 Antonyms
the worst ever (phr.) – A phrase meaning the least excellent in all of history.
an also-ran (phr.) – A person or thing that is not successful or ranked low.
a total failure (phr.) – Something that completely lacks success or quality.
📖 Cultural Story
Popularized in sports, especially by boxer Muhammad Ali who called himself 'The Greatest'. The phrase 'of all time' was later added, and the acronym GOAT became ubiquitous.
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