of all places

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "of all places" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate something unexpected or ironic. For example: We ran into my ex-boyfriend at the supermarket of all places.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

India of all places should know that.

The Economist

Why go there, of all places?

The New York Times

At a Safeway, of all places.

The New York Times

Here, of all places.

The Guardian - Sport

There, of all places?

The New Yorker

In Louisiana, of all places.

The New York Times

Why, it's Canada, of all places.

The Guardian - Sport

One recent possible precedent comes from, of all places, Kazakhstan.

The New York Times

He broke through on a road course, of all places.

The New York Times - Sports

In Oklahoma, of all places, cockfighting is now banned.

The Economist

And then, in Calcutta of all places, he gets stuck.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance the impact, follow "of all places" with a brief explanation of why the location is surprising or unexpected.

Common error

Avoid using "of all places" when the location is not particularly surprising or ironic. This can weaken the impact of the phrase and make your writing sound awkward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of all places" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb or clause. It expresses surprise or irony about a particular location, indicating that the event occurred in an unexpected or unlikely spot. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "of all places" is a versatile and commonly used expression to convey surprise or irony about a particular location. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to emphasize the unexpected nature of an event's setting. Predominantly found in News & Media, the phrase maintains a neutral register suitable for various forms of communication. Remember to use this phrase when you wish to highlight the contrast between an event and its surprising location, and avoid using it in neutral contexts where the location is not particularly noteworthy. You can also use alternative expressions like "in all the world" or "of all locations" to convey similar sentiments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

of all locations

Replaces "places" with a more formal synonym, maintaining the same ironic or surprised tone.

in all the world

Emphasizes the global scope of the unexpected event, adding a dramatic flair.

of all the spots

Uses a more casual synonym for "places", suitable for informal contexts.

of all the areas

Similar to 'of all locations' but slightly less formal, indicating a specific region or zone.

of all conceivable places

Highlights the unexpectedness by suggesting the location was not easily imaginable.

of all possible places

Similar to 'of all conceivable places', emphasizing the unlikelihood of the location.

of all unexpected places

Directly points out the surprising nature of the location.

in all creation

A more dramatic and emphatic way of saying 'in all the world', adding a sense of wonder.

of all unlikely places

Focuses on the improbability of the event occurring at that specific location.

nowhere else but here

Highlights the singularity of the event occurring in this specific spot, implying surprise.

FAQs

How can I use "of all places" in a sentence?

Use "of all places" to express surprise or irony about a location where something occurred. For example: "I found my lost keys at the park, "of all places"."

What's a similar phrase to "of all places"?

Alternatives to "of all places" include phrases like "in all the world", "of all locations", or "of all possible places", each conveying a similar sense of surprise or unexpectedness.

Is it correct to say "in all places" instead of "of all places"?

While "in all places" can mean everywhere, it doesn't carry the same sense of surprise or irony as ""of all places"". The latter specifically highlights the unexpected nature of a particular location.

When should I use "of all places" in my writing?

Use "of all places" when you want to emphasize the surprising or ironic nature of a location where an event took place. It's effective when the location adds to the unexpectedness of the situation.