The hosts discuss the expressions 'cream of the crop' and 'poster child', explaining their meanings and origins. They provide examples of how these idioms are used in everyday conversations and explore synonyms for 'cream of the crop'. The chapter also covers the concepts of excellence and the role of poster children in different fields.
Cream of the crop refers to the very best of a particular group or category.
A poster child is a person or thing that is seen as a typical example or the most notable representative of a particular quality, issue, cause, or business.
Deep dives
Cream of the Crop
Cream of the crop refers to the very best of a particular group or category. It signifies a high-quality item or thing that stands out from the rest. For example, students who are selected for a prestigious scholarship at a renowned university can be considered the cream of the crop among the high-level applicants.
Poster Child
A poster child is a person or thing that is seen as a typical example or the most notable representative of a particular quality, issue, cause, or business. For instance, Elon Musk can be seen as the poster child for demonstrating how to ruin a business, representing the negative aspect of his career trajectory.
Expressions in Everyday Life
The expressions cream of the crop and poster child are commonly used in everyday conversations. For example, we can describe a music festival lineup as the cream of the crop when it showcases a collection of outstanding musicians. Alternatively, someone who demonstrates excellent fashion sense on a particular occasion can no longer be considered the poster child for what not to wear.
In your opinion, which player is the cream of the crop on your favourite sports team? Who would you say is the poster child of success in the business world? If you’re not quite sure how to answer, Andrew and Kassy will help you understand the meanings and usages of these idioms in this Catch Word episode. They explain the origins of these helpful expressions and provide many example scenarios and synonyms.
Fun facts
One synonym for “cream of the crop” is “crème de la crème,” a saying that has been borrowed from French and means “the cream of the cream.” It’s similar to saying “the best of the best.” You can use this pattern to emphasize other adjectives, too. For instance, a really suave actor might be described as “the coolest of the cool” or a trillionaire could be called “the richest of the rich.” Try playing around with this structure and coming up with some creative ways to express superlative adjectives!
Expressions included in the study guide
Cream of the crop
Poster child
To cover for [someone]
Stacked
First-rate
Politically incorrect
Copyright: Culips.com
For more information about this episode, visit culips.com.
Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke for Free
Image: RDNE Stock project (pexels.com)
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