Phrase guide

cream of the crop

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The best or most desirable among some selection.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, uncountable

Examples

  • They hoped to hire only the cream of the crop for the new project team.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: crème de la crème

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: die room van die oes — the best
  • Dutch: crème de la crème — the best
  • Dutch: het neusje van de zalm — the best
  • Finnish: parhaimmisto — the best
  • Finnish: kerma — the best
  • French: crème de la crème — the best
  • Polish: śmietanka — the best
  • Portuguese: nata — the best
  • Portuguese: suprassumo — the best
  • Spanish: la crema y nata — the best
  • Spanish: flor y nata — the best
  • Spanish: lo más granado — the best
  • Turkish: kaymak — the best
  • Turkish: kaymak tabaka — the best