Grammar fix
few and far between
rare or uncommon
Used to say that something does not happen often, or that there are very few examples of it.
expressionC1occasional
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
Good public parks are few and far between in the city centre.
When it comes to genuine opportunities for promotion in my company, I’d say they’re few and far between, so most people tend to stay in the same position for years.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: Good jobs are few and far.
Say: Good jobs are few and far between.
Finish the idiom — '...and far between'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Arise with considerable infrequency' is heavy; the idiom says 'rare' with feeling.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
few and far between
- are
- become
- jobs are
- chances are