special delivery

plural special deliveries

1. uncountableA kind of postal service in which, for an extra fee, letters and packages are delivered in a highly expedited manner by a special courier.

   Then, as though he could hurry the trains East, he put a special delivery stamp on it.

   1922, Mary Roberts Rinehart, chapter 22, in The Breaking Point

   2 more examples

   The pick of the output of the French and German toymakers was rushed by special delivery to the mansion; but Rachel refused to be comforted.

   1910, O. Henry [pseudonym; William Sydney Porter], “Compliments of the Season”, in Strictly Business: More Stories of the Four Million, New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, →OCLC

   So, before he slept, he sent his sister a special-delivery letter knowing she would receive it in the morning.

   1919, Grace S. Richmond, “The Time of His Life”, in The Brown Study

2. countableA particular posted letter or package which is delivered in this manner; a particular act of conveying such letters or packages to one or more recipients.

   Late in the afternoon arrived a special delivery, mailed from some small New Jersey town.

   1922, F[rancis] Scott Fitzgerald, The Beautiful and Damned, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC, (please specify |book=1, 2, or 3)

   1 more example

   The post office arranged special deliveries every half-hour to handle the flood of greetings.

   1972 November 6, “People”, in Time

3. broadlycountablehumorousidiomaticsometimesuncountableSomething—whether desirable or undesirable—which is intentionally given to a specific individual or which an individual receives rapidly and unexpectedly; the personalized, direct quality of the transmission of such an item.

   “He might be God's special delivery for us. The reward we've been waiting for.”

   2008, Jerry B. Jenkins, John Perrodin, Seclusion Point, →ISBN, page 83

   2 more examples

   “Special delivery for Mr. Graham,” said the uniformed sheriff. He grinned as he stepped aside. “Hi, honey,” said the woman standing there.

   1998, Lisa Scottoline, Rough Justice, →ISBN, page 181

   “I have a special delivery for you from the president,” Harvath continued. He lowered his weapon, took aim, and shot the finger of Fawcett's right hand.

   2011, Brad Thor, Brad Thor Collectors' Edition #1, →ISBN