くらいのものだ

only, about the only, no one but, nothing but

AI-generated

Structure

[verb (plain)] + のは + [noun] + くらいのものだ [i-adj] + のは + [noun] + くらいのものだ [na-adj] + な + のは + [noun] + くらいのものだ [verb (dictionary form)] + くらいのものだ

Description

くらいのものだ means "about the only one": X is just about the one case that fits, and you'd be hard put to find another. The usual frame is 〜～のは xX くらいのものだ, with the description in a のは clause and the noun before くらいのものだ. ぐらいのものだ is the same.

。

He's about the only one who could say something like this.

。

You're about the only one who'd want to swim on a day this cold.

。

My teacher is about the only one who could recreate that shop's flavour.

The verb or adjective in the のは clause is in the plain form; a な-adjective keeps な. It is written or careful speech, and the tone is usually amazement or exasperation at the one exception.

くらいのものだ or だけだ

states a plain limit: "only X". くらいのものだ hedges ("about the only") and comments on how unusual that is.

。

Only Tanaka has the key to this room.

。

These days my grandmother is about the only one who writes letters.

"All there is"

After a verb or a word like これ, くらいのものだ means "that's about all": what is left is small.

。

This is about all I can do.

、。

About my only pleasure on my days off is a nap.

Examples

。

Tanaka is about the only one who would agree to such a reckless plan.

。

My grandmother is about the only one still writing letters in this day and age.

。

She's probably the only one who can solve that difficult problem.

。

My brother is about the only one who goes out in short sleeves in the middle of winter.

。

The company president is about the only one who can go to such an expensive restaurant every week.

、。

That old man is about the only one who knows the entire history of this village.

。

He himself is about the only one who laughs at his jokes.

。

You're about the only one who would go to such a dangerous place alone.

。

Our company is about the only one still using such an old computer nowadays.

。

The teacher is probably the only one who can play this piece all the way through.

くらいなら / ぐらいなら

ぐるみ