The Archive

Etymology Journal · C

Cut from a different cloth

Meaning

Used to describe someone who is uniquely talented, behaves differently than their peers, or possesses a character unlike anyone else. It usually carries a tone of admiration.

Admiring, descriptive

Used in a sentence

  • She is cut from a different cloth; I have never met someone so dedicated to her craft.
  • The new manager is cut from a different cloth, focusing more on team morale than just profits.
  • My grandfather was cut from a different cloth, a true gentleman of his era.

The backstory

This references the tailoring process, where different grades and types of fabric result in different qualities of garments. If you are cut from a different cloth, you are simply of a finer or distinct variety.

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