one for the books

Idioms and Phrases

Also, one for the book . An outstanding or unusual achievement or event, as in All of the main awards went to one picture—that's one for the books . This expression originally alluded to record books kept for sports but soon was applied to other endeavors. [ Colloquial ; c. 1900]

Example Sentences

When she could finally get a word in, she said: "This crowd is one for the books - this is different."

From BBC

By those standards, headlining a show at the Hollywood Bowl should simply be another feather in his cap, but we know his performance at L.A.’s most beloved outdoor venue will be one for the books as his 30-something years of dishing out his no-holds-barred brand of gritty, everyman snarkiness continue to make him a national treasure.

From Los Angeles Times

It's a bad idea to make sweeping statements about them finally jumping the shark since they always manage to outdo themselves but this week is certainly one for the books — if only because the stakes are so very high and they have sunk so very low.

From Salon

Even for someone who is prone to ranting and raving in public, this was one for the books.

From Salon

But trial testimony last week was one for the books.

From Slate

Related Words

• anomaly
• aspect
• circumstance
• episode
• event
• experience
• fact
• incident
• miracle
• paradox
• reality
• sensation