creme de la creme
The absolute best
Creme de la creme is French for "cream of the cream"—the very best of a group, the elite: Only the creme de la creme get invited to the gala.
The phrase adds flair to what "the best" says plainly.
Also spelled crème de la crème with accents.
- excellenceOutstanding quality or merit
- ne plus ultraHighest attainable point
- eliteSuperior select group
- upper crustSocial elite class
- high societyThe social elite
achievement · quality · top notch · apex · rarefied · masterpiece · pinnacle · quintessence · epitome · exemplar · crème · exquisite · paragon · zenith · finest hour · distinction · acme · French
- French Loanwordsa la carte, ballet, a la mode, au revoir, bon appetit
- excellenceexcellence, greatness, superior, perfection, premium
- top tierelite, premier, premium, prime, best
- superlativesexcellent, superb, best, outstanding, supreme
- loanwordsloanword, loan words, borrowings, borrowed words, loan word
quality/excellence
creme de la cremebottom of the barrel
Worst of what remains
trash · garbage · mediocrity · the pits · the worst
social/status hierarchy
creme de la cremeriffraff
Disreputable or undesirable people
rabble · bottom feeders · scum · hoi polloi · nobodies
creme, cream, creamy, creamer, creamery, creaminess, creamed, creaming