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

The strike from the Portugal international that earned Fulham a valuable away point was just top drawer.

From BBC • Oct. 29, 2023

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

The 44-year-old English teacher keeps a tube of Cucumber Melon body cream in the top drawer of his desk, tucked between Sharpies and masking tape.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 20, 2020

There was a dead plant in the open top drawer of a dented filing cabinet.

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein