in the world
The phrase "in the world" is often used for emphasis or to express surprise, covering a range of idiomatic expressions.
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Definition
B2General
(emphasis, idiomatic)Used to stress the extent or degree of something.
Example
- She is the best chef in the world.
- What in the world are you thinking?
B2General
(surprise, annoyance, idiomatic)Used to express surprise or irritation.
Example
- How in the world did you manage that?
- Why in the world would you do that?
B2General
(negation, idiomatic)Used with negatives to indicate impossibility.
Example
- No one in the world can solve this problem.
- Nothing in the world could make me change my mind.
B2General
(idiomatic)Part of expressions indicating effort or reluctance.
Example
- I wouldn't do that for anything in the world.
- With the best will in the world, I can't finish this by tomorrow.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "in the world":
around the worldin a world of painreal worldout therein a world of hurtin the wildoutside worldhub worldin the openin the fieldbook worldin a wordin onein the gamein the wind