Definition
The best of its kind; unmatched or unequaled in quality, skill, or achievement.
Etymology
This phrase has roots in medieval ranking systems where 'second' meant subordinate or inferior position. The construction 'second to none' emerged in English around the 16th century as a way to emphatically state supremacy - if something is not second (inferior) to anything, it must be first. The double negative construction creates emphasis while avoiding the direct boast of claiming to be 'first.'
Kelly Says
The genius of this phrase lies in its humble-sounding way of claiming superiority. Instead of boldly declaring 'we're the best,' it modestly states 'we're not second to anyone' - achieving the same meaning while appearing less boastful. It's linguistic diplomacy at its finest.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
አንድም አይደለም
an-dim ay-de-lem
ARالعربية
لا مثيل له
la mithil la-hu
BNবাংলা
অন্যের তুলনায়
on-yer tul-na-ay
CACatalà
sense comparació
sen-se ko-m-pa-ra-cio
CSČeština
než žádný jiný
nezh z-ad-ny jin-y
DADansk
uden lige
u-den lee-ge
DEDeutsch
unübertroffen
oon-yoo-bert-rof-en
ELΕλληνικά
αδιαπραγμάτευτος
a-dia-pra-gma-te-tos
ESEspañol
el mejor
el ben-yor
FAفارسی
بی نظیر
bi-ni-zair
FISuomi
mitään vertaa
mit-aen ve-raa
FRFrançais
sans pareil
san pa-reil
GUGU
કોઈ સરખા નથી
koi sar-kha na-thi
HAHA
babu kowa
ba-bu ko-wa
HEעברית
אין כמוהו
ein k-mo-hu
HIहिन्दी
सर्वोत्तम
sar-vo-ttam
HUMagyar
másnak sem
más-nak sem
IDBahasa Indonesia
tidak ada bandingannya
tidak ada ban-ding-an-nya
ITItaliano
il migliore
il ben-te-re
JA日本語
他に類を見ない
hito-ni-kata-wo-mi-nai
KMKM
គ្មានអ្នកដទៃទេ
k-g-ma-an a-nk da-te-i te
MRMR
कोणत्याहीशी
ko-nya-ta-hi-she
MSBahasa Melayu
tiada tandingannya
ti-ada tan-ding-an-nya
MYမြန်မာ
တခြားမရ
ta-kya-mar
NLNederlands
zonder weergaaf
zon-der ve-re-gaaf
NONorsk
uten like
u-ten lee-ke
PLPolski
bez porównania
bez por-wo-na-nia
PTPortuguês
sem igual
sem ee-gal
RORomână
fără egal
far-a e-gal
RUРусский
лучший из лучших
lyuch-shiy iz luch-shih
SVSvenska
överlägsen alla
o-ver-la-gsen al-la
SWKiswahili
hakuna anaye sawa naye
ha-ku-na a-na-ye sa-wa na-ye
TAதமிழ்
சிறந்தது
si-ran-thathu
TEతెలుగు
ఏదీ దానికి సమానం
e-dee da-ni-ki sa-ma-nam
THไทย
ไม่มีใครเทียบ
mai mee krai teeb
TLTL
walang kapantay
wa-lang ka-pan-tay
TRTürkçe
hikaye benzeri
hi-ka-ye ben-zer-i
UKУкраїнська
кращий за всіх
kray-shy za v-sikh
URاردو
کوئی اس سے بہتر نہیں
koo-ee as se be-htar nahin
VITiếng Việt
không có gì sánh bằng
khong co gi sanh bang