of a lifetime

Used to describe something extremely exceptional, important, or enjoyable that isn't likely to occur again. They offered me the chance of a lifetime to travel the world and write about my experiences abroad. That tour around Europe really was the trip of a lifetime!

of a lifetime

(of a chance or experience) such as does not occur more than once in a person's life; exceptional.

the chance, etc. of a ˈlifetime

a wonderful opportunity, etc. that you are not likely to get again: This is your chance to win the trip of a lifetime!

See also: lifetime, of

References in classic literature ?

Ten years ago Lavalle, "that imperturbable dreamer of the heavens," as Lazareff hailed him, gathered together the fruits of a lifetime's labour, and gave it, with well-justified contempt, to a world bound hand and foot to Barald's Theory of Vertices and "compensating electric nodes." "They shall see," he wrote--in that immortal postscript to The Heart of the Cyclone--"the Laws whose existence they derided written in fire beneath them."

View in context

Mays turned his back to the infield and ran seemingly forever before making the over-the-shoulder catch of a lifetime.

Greatest World Series upsets: some of the best teams in the regular season have come up short in closing their big year with a championship title

"You can see the pain and experience of a lifetime of struggle!" they'll say as they start wheeling through their portfolio.