blue ribbon
Highly superior in quality, style, substance, prestige, etcHighly superior in quality, style, substance, prestige, etc.
» Tom won a blue ribbon.
CK · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
2 senses(idiomatic, not comparable)Highly superior in quality, style, substance, prestige, etc.
The governor selected a cadre of blue ribbon social scientists to serve on her poverty task force.
A blue ribbon jury of accomplished artists will choose the best three entries.
(Australia, informal, not comparable)Pertaining to the Liberal Party, its supporters and regions.
Examples
3 sentencesTom won a blue ribbon.
Then I broke my blue ribbon and began to drink again.
With his lace and embroideries, and his crown of blue ribbon and whalebone, he looked like the king of babies.
deMit seiner Spitze und Stickereien, und seiner Krone aus blauem Band und Fischbein sah er aus wie der König der Kleinkinder. — Yorwba
Origin
Perhaps a calque of Middle French cordon bleu (“blue ribbon”), worn by knights of the OrdePerhaps a calque of Middle French cordon bleu (“blue ribbon”), worn by knights of the Order of the Holy Spirit, or after Blue Riband, a sailing award.
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