top drawer

American  

noun

1. the highest level in rank, excellence, or importance.

   a musician strictly out of the top drawer.

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top drawer British  

noun

1. people of the highest standing, esp socially (esp in the phrase out of the top drawer )

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top drawer Idioms  

1. Of the highest quality, importance, or rank, as in The musicians in this pick-up orchestra were top drawer. It probably alludes to the uppermost drawer in a bureau or chest, where the most valuable objects (such as jewelry) are usually kept. [c. 1900]

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Other Word Forms

• top-drawer adjective

Etymology

Origin of top drawer

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Leclerc's victory was out of the top drawer and underlined his quality as one of the leading lights of the new generation.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2022

The night before, Ms. Reardon said, “I sat in bed and wrote a list of attributes my ‘dream guy’ would have and tucked it away in my top drawer.

From New York Times • Nov. 19, 2021

The writing is top drawer, and the text is experimental to profitable effect, which I’m afraid is rather rare.

From The Guardian • Jun. 5, 2020

In the top drawer, he stores a stack of outstanding medical bills related to years of heart trouble.

From Washington Times • Feb. 15, 2020

Everybody knew that Sir Mdiagrance was not quite out of the top drawer.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White