crème de la crème

[krem duh lah krem, krem duh la krem]

noun

1. the very best; choicest parts or members.

crème de la crème

/ krɛm də la krɛm /

noun

1. the very best

crème de la crème

1. The best of the best: “Our school's marching band is acknowledged as the crème de la crème.” From French, meaning “cream of the cream.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of crème de la crème¹

First recorded in 1840–50; literally, cream of the cream

Word History and Origins

Origin of crème de la crème¹

literally: cream of the cream

Example Sentences

Bergdorf Goodman is considered the crème de la crème of department stores.

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The first Ozzfest was a mere two dates — one in Arizona, one in California — but like subsequent touring Ozzfest’s, it featured the crème de la crème of metal, both chart-toppers and newcomers divided between two stages.

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"This isn't the creme de la creme of French banditry. They're a bit of a bunch of losers, really. They're the same kind of people who in the 60s and 70s would burglar banks or post offices and who then rebranded to drug trafficking and then moved on to jewels because it was easier," she said.

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She told police: "I wanted her on the unit, I really did. When students come through the system you are almost able to hand-pick the creme de la creme and she was one of those."

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A nursing boss has told a public inquiry she never had any evidence of wrongdoing by "creme de la creme" nurse Lucy Letby.

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