top-shelf

adjective

ˈtäp-ˈshelf 

1

: of the best quality

top-shelf products

Reading does have one top-shelf tourist attraction, a gorgeous pagoda that sits atop a mountain.

—Joe Queenan

2

[from the placement of sexually explicit magazines for sale on high shelves out of the reach of children] British : containing pornographic material

top-shelf magazines

This year, retailers are going to come under increased pressure to clean up their acts. Of course, they're not obliged to sell top-shelf mags.

—The Grocer

Synonyms

• A-OK
• A1
• awesome
• bang-up
• banner
• beautiful
• blue-chip
• blue-ribbon
• boffo
• bonny [chiefly British]
• bonnie
• boss [slang]
• brag
• brave
• bully
• bumper
• capital
• choice
• classic
• cool [slang]
• corking
• crackerjack
• cracking
• dandy
• divine
• dope [slang]
• down [slang]
• dynamite
• excellent
• fab
• fabulous
• famous
• fantabulous [slang]
• fantastic
• fine
• first-class
• first-rate
• first-string
• five-star
• four-star
• frontline
• gangbusters
• gangbuster
• gilt-edged
• gilt-edge
• gone [slang]
• grand
• great
• groovy
• heavenly
• high-class
• hot
• hype [slang]
• immense
• jim-dandy
• keen
• lovely
• marvelous
• marvellous
• mean
• neat
• nifty
• noble
• number one
• No. 1
• numero uno
• out-of-sight [slang]
• par excellence
• peachy
• peachy keen
• phat [slang]
• prime
• primo [slang]
• prize
• prizewinning
• quality
• radical [slang]
• righteous [slang]
• sensational
• slick
• splendid
• stellar
• sterling
• superb
• superior
• superlative
• supernal
• swell
• terrific
• tip-top
• top
• top-notch
• top-of-the-line
• topflight
• topping [chiefly British]
• unsurpassed
• wizard [chiefly British]
• wonderful

Examples of top-shelf in a Sentence

hoping to impress the new neighbors, she brought a top-shelf wine as a housewarming gift

Recent Examples on the Web

Unlimited fine wines, top-shelf spirits, specialty coffee and in-room minibars are part of the overall fare. —Ramsey Qubein, Forbes, 22 Sep. 2024

Just last month, the retailer expanded its online beauty aisles with a Premium Beauty marketplace, amounting to 1,000 additional products from top-shelf brands. —Olivia Cigliano, WWD, 16 Sep. 2024

Bader infuses this proprietary blend of peptides, amino acids, and vitamins into its top-shelf skincare to improve cellular renewal. —Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 14 Sep. 2024

Quarterback Matthew Stafford leads the offense and has a top-shelf receiving tandem in Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, along with a budding star in running back Kyren Williams. —Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1