crème de la crème

noun

ˈkrem-də-lä-ˈkrem 

-lə-

: the very best

Synonyms

• best
• Hall of Fame
• cream of the crop
• upper crust
• choice
• nobility
• cream
• quality
• pink
• priesthood
• elect
• corps d'elite
• royalty
• aristocracy

Examples of crème de la crème in a Sentence

a list of titles that represents the crème de la crème of the multitude of books published over the past year

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, cream of the cream

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above