# built different

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/built-different
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Able to do things which others cannot; extremely talented or unusual.

## Examples

- He finished the marathon in record time; he is just built different.
- My brother is built different and never feels cold, even in the snow.
- Most people would have given up after that injury, but she returned to the court even stronger because she is built different.
- You can tell the new chef is built different because he manages the busiest kitchen in the city without ever losing his temper or making a mistake.
- While everyone else needs a calculator for basic math, she does complex multiplication in her head instantly; she is truly built different.
- While his peers struggled to grasp the complex theory, he solved the equation in seconds, proving that his analytical mind was simply built different.

## Origin

The term gained popularity in July 2020 through a trend on the video-sharing platform TikTok. It appeared in a series of recordings in which users claimed an ability to perform various improbable tasks, attributing their success to being built different. While the phrasing implies a unique physical or temperamental constitution, the trend was largely a matter of parody.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.