walking dictionary; expert
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
a walking dictionary; a person with encyclopedic knowledge
informalThis term is often used metaphorically to describe someone who knows a vast amount of information, not necessarily limited to linguistic knowledge.
My professor is like a walking dictionary; he can answer any question.
When it comes to rare characters, he is our acknowledged walking dictionary.
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You don't need to go online to find historical information; just ask Old Zhang, he's a walking encyclopedia.
noun
an expert in a particular field; a go-to person for information or data
informalThis sense broadens the meaning to include specialists in any domain who are highly knowledgeable and can provide immediate, accurate information.
Xiao Wang is our department's go-to expert; he knows all the client data like the back of his hand.
Regarding local traffic laws, Officer Li is a walking reference book.
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She is not just a programmer; she is the living encyclopedia for the project's technology.