be few and far between
to be rare

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

rare not existing in large numbers or in large amounts:
The law prevents the export of rare birds.
The plates are quite rare. Only about a hundred were made.
scarce not available in large enough numbers or amounts at a particular time – used especially about things people need:
After the war, food and clothing were scarce.
People are having to compete for scarce resources.
not common [not before noun] fairly rare:
Silver coins of this period are not common, and could be very valuable.
infrequent formal not happening often:
As time went on, her visits became more and more infrequent.
be few and far between to not be common – especially much less common than you might expect:
Luckily, accidents such as these are few and far between.
Bargains are, unfortunately, few and far between.
be (something of) a rarity if something or someone is a rarity, it is surprising to find one, because very few exist:
Women are still something of a rarity in senior management positions.
be like hen’s teeth informal to be extremely rare:
Good Greek restaurants are like hen’s teeth around here.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

few and far between
not very many or not appearing very frequently.
He grew up at a time when jobs were few and far between.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

few and far between
not many, rare
The gas stations were few and far between on the highway through the mountains.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

few and far between
adj. phr. Not many; few and scattered; not often met or found; rare.
■ Used in the predicate.
People who will work as hard as Thomas A. Edison are few and far between.
Places where you can get water are few and far between in the desert.
Really exciting games are few and far between.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲