complete stranger
غريب تمامًا
Use it to emphasize that you have absolutely zero prior knowledge of a person.
En 15 segundos
- Someone you have never met or seen before in your life.
- Used to emphasize a total lack of familiarity or connection.
- Common in stories about surprises, safety, or random encounters.
Significado
This phrase describes someone you have absolutely no connection to. You don't know their name, their face, or anything about their life.
Ejemplos clave
3 de 6Describing a random act of kindness
A complete stranger helped me change my flat tire in the rain.
ساعدني غريب تمامًا في تغيير إطاري المثقوب تحت المطر.
Warning a child about safety
Don't ever take candy from a complete stranger.
لا تأخذ الحلوى أبدًا من غريب تمامًا.
Talking about a weird party experience
I walked into the wrong house and sat with a complete stranger!
دخلت المنزل الخطأ وجلست مع غريب تمامًا!
Contexto cultural
The phrase gained significant cultural weight through the 20th-century 'Stranger Danger' campaigns in the US and UK. It reflects a social paradox where Westerners are often private, yet value 'random acts of kindness' from people they don't know. The term is also a popular trope in literature and film, often used to start a mystery or a romance.
The 'Total' Alternative
You can swap 'complete' for 'total' (total stranger) and it means the exact same thing. 'Total' is very popular in American slang.
Don't be rude
Avoid saying 'You are a complete stranger' directly to someone's face unless they are bothering you. It can sound very cold or aggressive.
En 15 segundos
- Someone you have never met or seen before in your life.
- Used to emphasize a total lack of familiarity or connection.
- Common in stories about surprises, safety, or random encounters.
What It Means
Imagine you are walking down a busy street in London. You pass hundreds of people. You do not know their names. You do not know where they live. To you, every single one of them is a complete stranger. The word complete acts like a highlighter here. It emphasizes that there is zero familiarity. It is not just someone you met once and forgot. It is someone who is a total mystery to you.
How To Use It
You use this phrase as a noun. It usually follows verbs like be, meet, or talk to. You can say, "I've never seen him before; he is a complete stranger." It sounds very natural and flows well in conversation. It is much stronger than just saying "a person I don't know." It adds a bit of drama or clarity to your story.
When To Use It
Use it when you want to emphasize safety or surprise. If a person you don't know buys you a coffee, that is a great time for this phrase. "A complete stranger just paid for my latte!" You can use it at work if someone walks into a private meeting. You can use it when telling a story about traveling. It works perfectly when describing a random act of kindness or a weird encounter.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for someone you have met once or twice. If you know their name, they are an acquaintance, not a complete stranger. Also, do not use it for family members you haven't seen in years. That is just "estranged family." Calling your cousin a complete stranger sounds like you have amnesia. It is also a bit too heavy for a party where you know the host but not the guests.
Cultural Background
In English-speaking cultures, there is a famous concept called "Stranger Danger." Children are taught not to talk to complete strangers. However, there is also a famous line from the play *A Streetcar Named Desire*: "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers." This shows the two sides of the phrase. It can represent a hidden threat or a beautiful, unexpected connection between two humans.
Common Variations
You might also hear total stranger or perfect stranger. They all mean the exact same thing. Perfect stranger sounds a bit more literary or old-fashioned. Total stranger is very common in American English. If you want to be more casual, you might just say "some random person," but complete stranger is the classic choice for any situation.
Notas de uso
This is a neutral-register collocation. It is safe to use in almost any conversation, from talking to your boss to chatting with a friend. Just remember it is a noun phrase.
The 'Total' Alternative
You can swap 'complete' for 'total' (total stranger) and it means the exact same thing. 'Total' is very popular in American slang.
Don't be rude
Avoid saying 'You are a complete stranger' directly to someone's face unless they are bothering you. It can sound very cold or aggressive.
The Kindness Rule
In many English-speaking cities, it is common to ignore strangers on the street, but if you ask for help, a 'complete stranger' will often go out of their way to assist you.
Ejemplos
6A complete stranger helped me change my flat tire in the rain.
ساعدني غريب تمامًا في تغيير إطاري المثقوب تحت المطر.
Shows the person was totally unknown but helpful.
Don't ever take candy from a complete stranger.
لا تأخذ الحلوى أبدًا من غريب تمامًا.
A standard safety warning used by parents.
I walked into the wrong house and sat with a complete stranger!
دخلت المنزل الخطأ وجلست مع غريب تمامًا!
Highlights the awkwardness of the mistake.
We can't discuss the merger while a complete stranger is in the room.
لا يمكننا مناقشة الاندماج بينما يوجد غريب تمامًا في الغرفة.
Used to protect sensitive information.
Some complete stranger just complimented my shoes!
لقد قام غريب تمامًا للتو بمدح حذائي!
Used to share a small, pleasant surprise.
I can't believe you told your life story to a complete stranger.
لا أصدق أنك حكيت قصة حياتك لغريب تمامًا.
Suggests the person was too open with someone unknown.
Ponte a prueba
Choose the best word to complete the phrase.
I don't know who she is; she is a ___ stranger to me.
While 'full' and 'complete' are synonyms, 'complete stranger' is the fixed collocation used in English.
Identify the context where 'complete stranger' fits best.
The man who delivered my pizza was a ___.
Unless you know your delivery driver personally, they are a complete stranger.
🎉 Puntuación: /2
Ayudas visuales
Formality of 'Complete Stranger'
Used with friends to tell stories.
Some random guy...
Standard way to describe an unknown person.
A complete stranger...
Used in legal or serious warnings.
An unidentified individual...
When to use 'Complete Stranger'
Public Transport
Sitting next to one on a bus.
Safety
Warning kids about unknown people.
Kindness
Someone returning your lost wallet.
Travel
Asking for directions in a new city.
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNo, 'full stranger' is not a natural collocation. Stick with complete stranger or total stranger.
It is a bit informal for a report. Use unidentified individual or external party instead.
A stranger is just someone you don't know. Adding complete emphasizes that you have absolutely no connection or history with them.
Technically yes, but if you know their name and life details, they aren't really a complete stranger anymore.
Yes, perfect stranger is a common variation, often used in book titles or more poetic speech.
Not necessarily. It can be used for scary situations, but also for wonderful surprises like the kindness of a complete stranger.
Yes, you can say they were complete strangers if you didn't know any of them.
It acts as an intensifier to show that the lack of knowledge is 100%.
Yes, it is used very frequently in both British and American English.
Learners sometimes say strange person. A strange person is someone who acts weirdly, while a complete stranger is simply someone you don't know.
Frases relacionadas
Total stranger
Exactly the same as complete stranger; very common in US English.
Perfect stranger
A slightly more formal or dramatic version of the phrase.
Passing acquaintance
Someone you know very slightly, but not well.
Random person
A very informal/slang way to describe a stranger.
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