built different
adjUK /bɪlt ˈdɪfəɹ(ə)nt/ · US /bɪlt ˈdɪfəɹənt/
Etymology The term was popularized by a July 2020 trend on the video-sharing website TikTok, in which users jokingly claimed to be able to accomplish various improbable tasks as a result of being “built different”.
- I learnt that true rock climbers are built different. Their bodies will do things mere humans can't.1999, Peter Inchbald, “Plato’s Garden: Oxford 1937–39”, in Jack of All Trades and His Family, [Morrisville, N.C.]: Lulu Press, published 2013, →ISBN, book II (Speaking from Memory), page 101:
- Some people are built different, and kudos to them who are like that, but I'm built different. I always say I'm the most competitive person I know, and look at my wife, she rolling her eyes probably.2017 July 14, Alysha Tsuji, quoting Chris Paul, “Chris Paul Quoted ‘Talladega Nights’ while Talking about Rockets’ Goal of Winning a Title”, in For the Win, USA Today, archived from the original on 25 Jun 2022:
4 more examples
- Not many coaches in the nation have the ability to turn overlooked recruits into All-Americans, but [Mark] Dantonio is built different.2018 August 30, Connor Muldowney, “Michigan State Football: 25 Best Players of the Mark Dantonio Era”, in Spartan Avenue, FanSided, archived from the original on 08 Nov 2022:
- We fully know our bodies and what we are risking especially at the professional level. […] He's [Kevin Durant's] built different than the ppl^([sic – meaning people]) saying he shouldn't have played. Maybe that's why they haven’t gotten where he is.2019 June 12, Des Bieler, quoting Richard Sherman, “Charles Barkley blames the Warriors for Kevin Durant’s injury”, in The Washington Post, Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 17 Jun 2019:
- You are built different, sir. Our church is blessed to have such a faithful and committed leader.2022, Dakota Andekin, “Acknowledgement”, in Prescription for Addiction: An Awakening in America through the Eradication of Addiction, Meadville, Pa.: Christian Faith Publishing, →ISBN:
- In the comments section, users recounted their alleged experience with the physical labor of working in an Amazon warehouse. / "My feet was so mfin sore. & the breaks were more like 5mins," claimed a commenter. "I only worked for two days." / "My shoulder still hurts and I haven't worked there since 2020," stated a second. / "I literally had quit on my second day," a further user added. "You built different if you work there."2022 August 16, Braden Bjella, “‘TF am I Stretching at Work for?’: Amazon Warehouse Worker Says Workers Stretch as Group before Shift, Sparking Debate”, in The Daily Dot, archived from the original on 30 Aug 2022:
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Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see built, different.
- Related terms
- hit different