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[1098] Cream of the crop

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English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • The very best of a group; the top choice or elite members.

Origin

  • From the French phrase crème de la crème, literally cream of the cream.
  • Cream is the fatty part of milk that rises to the top and is considered the richest and best part.
  • The expression transfers this idea to people or things, signifying the highest quality or best examples within a category.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • The best of the best
  • Top-tier / Top-notch
  • Crème de la crème (Direct French borrowing, often seen as slightly more sophisticated or formal)
  • Elite
  • Pick of the bunch
  • A-list

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • Top dog(s) (Refers to the leader or best performer)
  • The shit (Vulgar, means the best, excellent use with extreme caution)
  • Badass (Slang, refers to someone impressive or highly skilled, can imply the best)
  • GOAT (Acronym: Greatest Of All Time)

Formal/Standard:

  • Elite
  • Premier
  • Top-performing
  • The finest examples
  • Best in class

Situational Appropriateness

  • Neutral to slightly informal.
  • Can be used in business and professional contexts, but top-tier or elite might sometimes sound more formal.
  • Very common in general conversation.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • Unlikely to be misunderstood, though the literal connection to dairy cream might need clarification for learners.

Examples

  • These students represent the cream of the crop from our university.
  • We only hire the cream of the crop.
  • When it comes to vintage cars, this model is the cream of the crop.

Dialogue

Recruiter A: We had over 500 applicants for this position.

Recruiter B: Wow. How many did you interview?

Recruiter A: We narrowed it down to the top 10. They're really the cream of the crop.

Recruiter B: Excellent. Let's see their profiles.

Social Media Examples

  • Post: Proud to announce our company was selected as one of the 'Best Places to Work'! We truly have the cream of the crop when it comes to employees. #TeamAwesome #CompanyCulture
  • Tweet: Just tasted the new lineup from @ArtisanChocolates definitely the cream of the crop! #chocolate #foodie
  • Comment: These finalists are the cream of the crop, it's going to be a tough decision!

Response Patterns

Typically an assessment, not requiring a direct response.

    If someone describes a group you're in as the cream of the crop, a polite response might be:

    • Thank you, that's kind of you to say.
    • We certainly try our best.

    If someone describes an item or group this way, responses could be agreement:

    • Absolutely, they're top-notch.
    • Definitely the best.

    Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

    After identifying something/someone as the cream of the crop:

    • Asking what makes them the best: What sets them apart?
    • Expressing agreement/disagreement: I agree, or I think [another option] is better.
    • Seeking more examples: Who else is in that category?

    Conversation Starter

    • No.
    • Used to evaluate or describe something already under discussion.

    Intonation

    • Emphasis usually falls on cream and crop.
    • Often spoken with a tone of approval or highlighting excellence.
    • They really are the CREAM of the CROP.

    Generation Differences

    • Widely understood and used across all generations.

    Regional Variations

    • Common in all major English-speaking regions.
    • Crème de la crème might be slightly more frequent in British English, but is understood everywhere.
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