Reader question:

Please explain “one-off” in this example: Stephen Gerrard is “a genuine one-off”.

My comments:

Let’s put it another way.

Is American President Barack Obama a socialist?

The answer is: No, not at all.

That’s what the headline means. “Not even close” emphasizes the point that no, no, no, Obama is not a socialist. He may have introduced Obama Care and everything, but it’s not right at all to call him a socialist. And this point is not even close to being disputable.

Or Obama is not even close to being a socialist.

“Not even close”, when it’s allowed to stand alone, is an American colloquialism that means an emphatic No.

It’s used in situations when two things are very different, not alike, at all.

For example, in a horse race, if the winner beats the rest of the field by 50 yards, then it’s an easy win. It’s not even close.

It’s not a close race. The difference in speed and class between the winning horse and the rest are great, not small, not neck and neck, not close. Like, at all.

OK, all we need do is read a few more media examples to bring the point home:

1. Leonardo DiCaprio might play an enigmatic playboy in his forthcoming film, but he insists he's the exact opposite in private – despite damning evidence to the contrary.

The 38-year-old actor will be on the Croissette alongside co-stars Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire next month when forthcoming film The Great Gatsby - an adaptation of the classic 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald – opens the 66th Cannes Film Festival.

But while Jay Gatsby – the enigmatic character played by Leo – makes a lasting impression on everyone he meets the actor says he’s nothing like that in real life, something that made the role even more of a challenge.

“(It’s one of) the most beloved novels of all time,” he told Access Hollywood during a recent press junket to promote the film. “It’s a great piece of American literature and everyone has their own personal with these characters and these people and they have their own interpretation of Gatsby.”

“It’s intimidating going into a process where you’re going to make a film adaptation of something that is this intricate, complex and beloved worldwide because you're almost setting yourself up for disaster.”

Away from the big screen Leo has romanced a string of models and actresses – amongst them Erin Heatherton, Bar Refaelli, Gisele Bundchen and Gossip Girl star Blake Lively – and was recently spotted partying with a bevy of beauties on a yacht while filming scenes for another forthcoming movie, Martin Scorcese’s The Wolf of Wall Street, but he insists his raunchy scenes were strictly professional.

“(My life) is not like that all the time, nope,” he insisted, when asked about his recent sighting. “Not even close. I mean that's nothing like my life, no.”

- ‘Not Even Close’: Leonardo DiCaprio Claims He Is Nothing Like On Screen Character Jay Gatsby, EntertainmentWise, April 29, 2013.

2. If he were to die anytime soon and discover that God exists, billionaire and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is confident that he will go to heaven.

“I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to heaven I’m not stopping to be interviewed. I am heading straight in. I have earned my place in heaven. It’s not even close,” said Bloomberg with a grin in a recent New York Times interview on his plan to pump $50 million in a grassroots network to challenge the National Rifle Association.

- ‘I Have Earned My Place in Heaven, It’s Not Even Close,’ Says Billionaire and Former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, ChristianPost.com, April 17, 2014.

3. Former Liverpool star Owen said that Sterling “is better than Ozil” before Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Liverpool on Saturday, in which the Englishman won a penalty and the German scored a sumptuous free-kick.

Talking to BT Sport before the game, Owen insisted that Arsenal “would find some way” to accommodate the Liverpool man, whose future at Anfield is under considerable doubt.

Sterling’s contract at Liverpool runs until 2017, and the 20-year-old has admitted that he has turned down a fresh offer amounting to ￡100,000-a-week, with Arsenal reportedly one of numerous interested parties.

Owen has since reiterated his claim over the two players however, despite seeing Ozil comprehensively outshine the youngster in Arsenal’s comfortable win at Emirates Stadium.

“It seems my claim that Sterling is a better player than Ozil has made some headlines today,” Owen said.

“Is there a debate? Not even close.”

- Owen: Sterling better than Ozil, Football365.com, April 7, 2015.

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About the author:

Zhang Xin is Trainer at chinadaily.com.cn. He has been with China Daily since 1988, when he graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Write him at: zhangxin@chinadaily.com.cn, or raise a question for potential use in a future column.

（作者張欣 中國日報網英語點津 編輯：王偉）