cream of the crop
Finest of all
Cream of the crop refers to the best of a group—the finest, most elite selection.
Just as cream rises to the top of fresh milk, the cream of the crop represents what has risen above the rest: Harvard recruits the cream of the crop.
The phrase emphasizes quality through selection or natural distinction.
- top-notchOf superior quality
- top of the lineHighest quality offered
- first-rateOf superior quality
- outstandingExceptionally good or unpaid
- crème de la crèmeThe absolute best
top-tier · elite · pick · exceptional · best in show · nonpareil · pick of the litter · quintessence · blue-ribbon · gold standard · crown jewel · optimum · paragon · apex · head of the class · eminent · pinnacle · best of the best
- eliteelite, elites, aristocrats, nobility, best
- excellenceexcellence, greatness, superior, perfection, premium
- Excellence Termstop notch, gold standard, crème de la crème, best of the best, top tier
- farm idiomsmake hay while the sun shines, put the cart before the horse, till the cows come home, buy the farm, put out to pasture
- rankingsrankings, first, college rankings, second, third
- top tierelite, premier, premium, prime, best
cream of the cropdregs
Residue at bottom
bottom of the barrel · the worst · the pits · scum · lowest of the low
cream of the croprun-of-the-mill
Unremarkably typical
mediocrity · the masses · ordinary · garden-variety · nothing special