rare

(as) rare as hens' teeth

Incredibly scarce or rare; extremely difficult or impossible to find. Support for the president is as rare as hens' teeth in this part of the country.
See also: rare, teeth

(as) rare as rocking horse crap

vulgar slang Extremely rare or unlikely; all but, or most likely, impossible or non-existent. Primarily heard in Ireland. An honest person in politics? Yeah, that's as rare as rocking horse crap. I'm sorry to say, but the part this engine needs is rare as rocking horse crap. They haven't manufactured these in nearly 50 years!
See also: crap, horse, rare, rocking

(as) rare as rocking horse manure

slang Extremely rare or unlikely; all but, or most likely, impossible or non-existent. Primarily heard in Ireland. An honest person in politics? Yeah, that's as rare as rocking horse manure. I'm sorry to say, but the part this engine needs is rare as rocking horse manure. They haven't manufactured these in nearly 50 years!
See also: horse, manure, rare, rocking

(as) rare as rocking horse poo

vulgar slang Extremely rare or unlikely; all but, or most likely, impossible or non-existent. Primarily heard in Ireland. An honest person in politics? Yeah, that's as rare as rocking horse poo. I'm sorry to say, but the part this engine needs is rare as rocking horse poo. They haven't manufactured these in nearly 50 years!
See also: horse, poo, rare, rocking

(as) rare as rocking horse shit

vulgar slang Extremely rare or unlikely; all but, or most likely, impossible or non-existent. Primarily heard in Ireland. An honest person in politics? Yeah, that's as rare as rocking horse shit. I'm sorry to say, but the part this engine needs is rare as rocking horse shit. They haven't manufactured these in nearly 50 years!
See also: horse, rare, rocking, shit

a rare bird

A person or thing that is very unusual, especially due to a combination of typically incompatible features. Their latest model is a rare bird indeed, a spacious hatchback that still feels premium and elegant in its design. The film is a rare bird—funny, crass, and yet more emotionally powerful than anything I've seen all year.
See also: bird, rare

have a rare old time

To have a very good time (at or doing something). Ooh, a "Great Gatsby"-themed party sounds fun! I'm sure you'll have a rare old time.
See also: have, old, rare, time

in rare form

1. In an extreme or otherwise remarkable manner, as of one's behavior. Boy, the kids are in rare form today—how much sugar did you give them? Patty always seems so timid, but she was in rare form in the meeting and deftly answered all of the board members' questions.
2. Doing something extremely well. That comedian was really in rare form last night. I'm not his biggest fan, but he made me laugh till I cried.
See also: form, rare

rare old time

old-fashioned An exceptionally pleasant, enjoyable, and amusing time. We always have a rare old time when the Smiths come over for a dinner party. We must do it again soon. You should come to the party on Saturday—it's sure to be a rare old time!
See also: old, rare, time
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

have a rare old time

a fine and enjoyable time at a party or something similar. We had a rare old time at Tom's the other night. I haven't had a rare old time like that in years.
See also: have, old, rare, time

in rare form

 
1. Fig. well prepared for a good performance; at one's best. The goalie is in rare form today; that's his third great save already. We are not exactly in rare form on Monday mornings.
2. Inf. intoxicated. Gert is in rare form, but she'll have time to sleep it off. When Harry was finally in rare form, he slid beneath the table.
See also: form, rare
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

rare bird, a

An exceptional individual, a unique person, as in That wife of yours is a rare bird; you're lucky to have her. This idiom, generally used as a compliment, is a translation of the Latin rara avis, which itself was used from about 1600 on and began to be translated only in the late 1800s.
See also: rare
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

a rare bird

LITERARY
If you call someone or something a rare bird, you mean that they are very unusual. Diane Johnson's book is that rare bird, an American novel of manners. Note: `A rare bird' is a translation of the Latin expression `rara avis', which was used by the Roman writer Juvenal in the 2nd century AD to describe a black swan. At the time, black swans were unknown, although they were later discovered in Australia.
See also: bird, rare

rare as hen's teeth

or

scarce as hen's teeth

OLD-FASHIONED
If something is as rare as hen's teeth or as scarce as hen's teeth, it is extremely rare. Record companies are becoming as rare as hen's teeth. Note: Hens do not have teeth.
See also: rare, teeth
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

rare (or scarce) as hen's teeth

extremely rare.
As hens do not possess teeth, the implication is that something is rare to the point of non-existence. The phrase was originally a US colloquialism, dating from the mid 19th century.
See also: rare, teeth

rare bird

an exceptional person or thing; a rarity.
The English expression is a literal translation of the Latin rara avis .
2005 Apollo Magazine Joseph Southall is that rare bird, an Arts and Crafts painter.
See also: bird, rare
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

(as) rare/scarce as hen’s ˈteeth

(old-fashioned) extremely rare: Critics always complain that good movies that the whole family can see together are as scarce as hen’s teeth.
This refers to the fact that hens do not have teeth.
See also: rare, scarce, teeth

a rare ˈbird

a person or thing that is unusual, often because they have/it has two very different interests or qualities: Jill is a very rare bird, a good politician and an excellent listener.This expression is a translation of the Latin idiom ‘rara avis’.
See also: bird, rare
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

in rare form

1. mod. well-tuned for a good performance; at one’s best. We are not exactly in rare form on Monday mornings.
2. mod. alcohol intoxicated. Gert is in rare form, but she’ll have time to sleep it off.
See also: form, rare

rare bird

n. an unusual person; a person with rare talents or abilities. An interesting kind of rare bird is the man who can take long vacations and still make money.
See also: bird, rare

rare old time

n. a fine and enjoyable time at a party or something similar. (Folksy.) That was a rare old time at Tom’s the other night.
See also: old, rare, time
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

rare bird, a

An unusual phenomenon or person. The term is a translation from Juvenal’s Satires (ca. a.d. 120), in which, speaking of chastity, he writes, “Rara avis in terris nigroque simillima cygno” (A bird as rare upon the earth as a black swan). The term was soon being applied to other rare phenomena, often as sarcastically as Juvenal had used it, as, for example, for “an honest lawyer” (John Wesley, Journal, 1764).
See also: rare
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • (as) rare as hens' teeth
  • rare as hen's teeth
  • rare/scarce as hen's teeth
  • scarce
  • be as scarce as hen's teeth
  • rarer than hens' teeth
  • scarcer
  • scarcer than hens' teeth
  • scarce as hen's teeth
  • (as) scarce as hens' teeth
References in periodicals archive
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During the awareness event, which took place in Nicosia, Eleftheriou said that a disease is considered to be rare if it affects less than 1 in 2,000 people, adding that for the time being there are 6,000 -- 8,000 different rare diseases.
At least 60,000 Cypriots suffer from rare diseases
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China launched the rare earth export quota license system in 1998.
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Figures estimate that around 15 million people in the Arab world suffer from rare diseases, but there is no data to back that up, said Al Jawhara Centre for Molecular Medicine and Inherited Disorders assistant professor Dr Cristina Skrypnyk.
Diseases registry is urged
From iPhones to missiles, rare earth elements are used in just about everything.
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M2 EQUITYBITES-December 2, 2015-Cellceutix wins the US FDA's Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for Kevetrin for retinoblastoma
Cellceutix wins the US FDA's Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for Kevetrin for retinoblastoma