a walking encyclopedia

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a walking encyclopedia" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who has an extensive amount of knowledge on various subjects, often recalling information easily. Example: "Whenever I have a question about history, I turn to Sarah; she's truly a walking encyclopedia."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Not everybody who teaches here is a walking encyclopedia.

The New Yorker

She remembers him as "a walking encyclopedia, full of marvellous stories and information about everything".

The New Yorker

That was also his own passion, as he was already a walking encyclopedia of Ducati lore.

The New York Times

"He's like a walking encyclopedia when it comes to baseball," he said.

The New York Times

Also a walking encyclopedia of every table d'hote on West Side.

The New Yorker

Mr. Baussan, a native of Provence, is a walking encyclopedia of olive oils.

The New York Times - Food

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

A graduate of SUNY Oswego, Mr. Yasinsac has become a kind of walking encyclopedia of the area's ruins.

The New York Times

Meet a football club's walking encyclopedia Jump to media player He has helped raise £1,400 for a club's charity by using his incredible knowledge of team results.

BBC

Then, heading out on our own, we visit Karnak, falling upon the walking encyclopedia Mohamed M. Abdelraheem, a graduate of Cairo University's Egyptology Department, who knew something about every grain of sand at Karnak.

HuffPost

In the heyday of quiz shows in the 1950s, when scholarly housewives and walking encyclopedia nerds battled on "The $64,000 Question" and "Tic-Tac-Dough," Mr. Van Doren was a rare specimen: a handsome, personable young intellectual with solid academic credentials, a faculty post at a prestigious university and an impressive family pedigree.

The New York Times

In one, Prior Walter Christian Borlee), the latest in several centuries of Prior Walters, loses his lover, walking encyclopedia Louis Ironson Zachary Quintoo), when his AIDS condition worsens and Louis slinks off.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "a walking encyclopedia" when you want to emphasize that someone has a broad and readily available knowledge base, similar to easily accessible reference material. It is especially effective when describing someone who can quickly recall facts and details across many subjects.

Common error

While "a walking encyclopedia" is a vivid description, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using alternatives like "a fountain of knowledge" or "an expert in the field" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a walking encyclopedia" functions as a noun phrase, acting as a descriptive attribute to characterize someone with extensive knowledge. Ludwig examples show its use to describe individuals across various fields, highlighting their comprehensive understanding.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Science

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a walking encyclopedia" is a common and generally acceptable way to describe someone with a vast and readily accessible knowledge base. It functions as a noun phrase and is often used in news and media, as highlighted by Ludwig. While grammatically correct, it's important to be mindful of overuse and consider more formal alternatives like "expert" or "scholar" in certain contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for conveying a person's broad and easily recalled knowledge on various subjects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fountain of knowledge

Emphasizes the abundance and easy flow of knowledge from the person.

a wealth of information

Highlights the extensive amount of knowledge possessed by the person.

a walking library

Similar to "a walking encyclopedia" but uses the metaphor of a library.

an expert in the field

Focuses on deep knowledge within a specific area.

a repository of information

Suggests the person is a storehouse of facts and data.

a knowledgeable person

A general term for someone who knows a lot.

a learned individual

Implies knowledge gained through study and experience.

a guru on the subject

Highlights expertise and authority in a specific subject.

an authority on

Implies recognized expertise and authoritative knowledge.

a master of

Focuses on complete understanding and skill in a particular area.

FAQs

What does it mean to call someone "a walking encyclopedia"?

Calling someone "a walking encyclopedia" means they have a vast amount of knowledge on many subjects and can readily recall facts and information.

How can I use the phrase "a walking encyclopedia" in a sentence?

You can say, "My history professor is "a walking encyclopedia", able to answer any question about historical events in detail."

What are some alternatives to saying someone is "a walking encyclopedia"?

Alternatives include "a fountain of knowledge", "a wealth of information", or "an expert in the field".

Is it appropriate to use the phrase "a walking encyclopedia" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, consider the context. In highly formal or academic writing, more precise terms like "scholar" or "expert" might be preferable. However, in news articles or general interest pieces, "a walking encyclopedia" is perfectly suitable.