cream of the crop
Meaning
The very best people or things in a group; the top quality or most excellent.
Origin
From the idea that cream rises to the top of milk and is considered the richest/best part; “crop” refers to harvested produce, so the phrase means the best portion of what’s produced.
Notes
Praising term for the best of a group. Used for people or things; common in selection, hiring, rankings, and marketing contexts.
Examples
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Only the cream of the crop make it into the national team.
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Our scholarship program is designed to support the cream of the crop in STEM fields.
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After three rounds of interviews, they hired the cream of the crop.
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This restaurant uses the cream of the crop when it comes to local seafood.
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The conference attracts the cream of the crop of researchers from around the world.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used as a noun phrase: “the cream of the crop.” Often follows “be” or appears after “of” (e.g., “considered the cream of the crop”). Article “the” is typically fixed.
Synonyms
- the best of the best
- top of the line
- the pick of the bunch
- the crème de la crème
- top-notch
Antonyms
- the worst of the bunch
- the bottom of the barrel
- second-rate