Definition of top-shelf
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
