eighth wonder

eighth wonder

A marvel; an astonishing or surprising thing or event. This expression, often used sarcastically, implies that something is (or is scarcely) worthy of being classed with the so-called seven wonders of the ancient world: the Pyramids of Egypt, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Tomb of Mausolus, Temple of Diana at Ephesus, Colossus of Rhodes, statue of Jupiter by Phidias, and the Pharos of Alexandria. The English novelist Maria Edgeworth wrote in a letter in 1831, “A spoiled child of 30 whose mother and father . . . think him the 8th wonder of the world.” See also nine-day wonder.
See also: eighth, wonder
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • vote of confidence
  • thanks but no thanks
  • thanks, but no thanks
  • the best thing since sliced pan
  • (one) never would have guessed
  • (Is) that everything?
  • (well,) I never!
  • barrel of fun
  • this just in
  • scurry along
References in classic literature
Mrs Merdle concurred with all her heart--or with all her art, which was exactly the same thing--and herself despatched a preparatory letter by the next post to the eighth wonder of the world.
He said, "As this is a tourist season, a majority of the travellers included Maasai Mara on their itinerary to see the safari." The Maasai Mara Game Reserve is the eighth Wonder of the World and The Great Wildebeest Migration is one of the Seven New Wonders of the World which involves a massive movement of wild animals between the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya from July through October.
QUESTION 3 Patsy --, actress who played the scheming Sadie in Emmerdale and who was once the singer with 1980s band Eighth Wonder.
The hotel boasts uninterrupted views of the majestic Sigiriya Rock Fortress that has been declared by UNESCO as the eighth wonder of the world.
This route is also referred to as the 'eighth wonder of the world', and only the most reliable vehicles can safely tackle it.
This one of its kind high-altitude marathon took place at an elevation of 11, 300 ft above sea-level, featuring a unique blend of young and old, local and foreign, male and female long distance runners, sweating out on the winding road linking Naltar with the eighth wonder of the world, the Karakoram Highway.
Also currently under the Blossom Films banner are 'Spectre', a horror movie co-written by James Wan of 'Saw' and 'Aquaman' fame, and the Simon Kinberg thriller 'The Eighth Wonder'.
PASTUREbrThe annual wildebeest migration from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve is one of the greatest natural spectacles, which led to its being named the Eighth Wonder of the World.It is the worlds largest migration, involving more than two million animals in search of greener pasture in Kenya.
He was overwhelmed by the natural beauty of Salalah and even considered that it be added as the eighth wonder of the world.
Now, reaching the finals with 12,766 points will be a real "eighth wonder of the world".
Murad captured a stunning photo of his wife, who donned flowing attire and a hijab at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, which he described as the "eighth wonder of the world." "#followmeto Sheikh Zayed Mosque with @natalyosmann.
Patil, who was impressed with Bhatia's collections, wrote on the museum's visitors book that "I have heard of seven wonders of the world but today I saw the eighth wonder at my friend Shyam Bhatia's amazing cricket collections."
Welsh landowner and CLA president Ross Murray said the landscapes of Wales were the "eighth wonder of the world".
Which Merseyside structure was described as "the eighth wonder of the world" when it was being built in the 1920s and early '30s?
The British constitution is the eighth wonder of the world, a fact our government keeps us ignorant of.