Home › Idioms

upper crust

Meaning: The highest level of society, i.e. people who are separated from ordinary people as being elite either by economic or social position, or both.

Language: English

Literally: (Already vivid in English)

Category: Daily Life

Origin: The expression can be used either as an adjective (sentence 1) or as a noun (sentence 2). Dating to the mid-19th century, this expression comes from the belief that the upper crust of bread was the best or most desirable part.

More idioms — Daily Life

  • up to snuff — Meeting the minimum standard requirements; as good as is required.
  • use one's wits — To use one's intelligence, knowledge, or wisdom.
  • wait for one's ship to come in — When one gets an unexpected lucky gift, especially money.
  • walk in someone's shoes — In someone else's situation.
  • walking on air — Blissfully happy.
  • wash one's hands of something or someone — To put something out of one's life or to stop claiming responsibility for something.

More English idioms

  • wear the pants in the family — To make the major decisions and have the greatest amount of power in a family.
  • wet behind the ears — Young and inexperienced.
  • wet blanket — A person who is seen as never wanting to take part in fun activities; a person who ruins…
  • not what it's cracked up to be — Not as good as its reputation; not as good as it is supposed to be.
  • when the chips are down — When the situation is critical; when things are going badly.
  • whip someone or something into shape — To mold or assemble something into its proper shape quickly.

← Back to Idioms

Loading the full interactive collection…