Meaning: This idiom means the best of the best or the highest quality individuals or items within a particular group. It implies a selection of the finest or most excellent elements from a larger set.
Usage in Example Sentences:
- “Only the cream of the crop were selected for the prestigious scholarship program.”
- “The company’s new hires are the cream of the crop, chosen from thousands of applicants.”
- “This restaurant serves the cream of the crop when it comes to gourmet cuisine.”
Origin: The origin of the idiom “the cream of the crop” comes from the process of milk separating into cream and milk. Cream rises to the top because it is the richest and most desirable part of the milk. This natural separation led to the metaphorical use of the phrase to describe the best or most outstanding individuals or items in any group or category. The idiom has been in use since at least the 16th century and continues to be a popular way to denote excellence or superiority.
