top-shelf

American

[top-shelf] / ˈtɒpˈʃɛlf /

Or top shelf

adjective

of high quality; premium.

His bar cart was full of top-shelf liquor.
The cinematography is top-shelf.

Etymology

Origin of top-shelf

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But when they beat the Chargers on the opening weekend of the playoffs, Vrabel wasn’t looking to dissect whether or not the team had proven itself against top-shelf competition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026

While those top-shelf names certainly hold appeal, they aren’t without risk.

From Barron's • Nov. 13, 2025

The Lions are a top-shelf team and should be able to win this pretty handily.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 2, 2025

Given that the boat serves excellent food, top-shelf liquor, free Wi-Fi and twice-daily housekeeping, even my modest math skills calculated that this was a very good deal indeed.

From Salon • Jul. 4, 2025

A day in the round for the father who breaks through the top-shelf like a picket-line.

From Unmanned by Oliver, Stephen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023