40 Idioms for Best -

Idioms are the poetry of everyday language, offering a splash of color and a depth of meaning that literal words often miss. They are phrases that act as a cultural shorthand, allowing us to convey complex emotions and situations with a simple, vivid image. When we explore these unique expressions, we do more than just learn new vocabulary; we gain insight into the shared experiences that shape our understanding of life.

Idioms can inspire deeper thinking by presenting ideas in a novel way, bringing clarity to abstract feelings or complicated circumstances. By embracing them, we unlock a more nuanced and powerful way to communicate, connecting with others on a level that goes beyond mere words and into the heart of the message.

Some of the best idioms are inspired by close relationships. Explore how people express appreciation with our favorite idioms for best friends full of warmth and meaning.

Table of Contents

Idioms for Best

1. The best of the best

Meaning: The absolute finest; the top examples from an already elite group.
Use in a sentence: The Olympic team is composed of the best of the best athletes from across the country.
Other ways to say it: The cream of the crop; the elite; the crème de la crème.

2. The best thing since sliced bread

Meaning: A truly excellent and useful invention or innovation.
Use in a sentence: My new smartphone is the best thing since sliced bread; it has simplified my life so much.
Other ways to say it: A game-changer; revolutionary; a brilliant invention.

3. (All) for the best

Meaning: A way of saying that a seemingly negative event will have a positive outcome in the long run.
Use in a sentence: I was sad about missing the train, but it turned out to be for the best because I met an old friend at the station.
Other ways to say it: A blessing in disguise; everything happens for a reason.

4. Cream of the crop

Meaning: The very best of a group of people or things.
Use in a sentence: The recruiter only interviewed the cream of the crop from the graduating class.
Other ways to say it: The best of the bunch; the pick of the litter; top-tier.

5. Top-notch

Meaning: Of the highest quality; excellent.
Use in a sentence: The hotel provided top-notch service throughout our stay.
Other ways to say it: First-rate; superb; outstanding.

6. Second to none

Meaning: The very best; better than all others.
Use in a sentence: When it comes to baking, her skills are second to none.
Other ways to say it: Unrivaled; unparalleled; without equal.

7. Head and shoulders above the rest

Meaning: Far superior to everyone or everything else.
Use in a sentence: Her performance in the play was head and shoulders above the rest of the cast.
Other ways to say it: In a class of its own; vastly superior.

8. Put your best foot forward

Meaning: To make the best impression possible; to act or appear at one’s best.
Use in a sentence: When you go for the job interview, be sure to put your best foot forward.
Other ways to say it: To make a good impression; to show yourself in the best light.

9. The bee’s knees

Meaning: An old-fashioned term for something or someone excellent or outstanding.
Use in a sentence: He thinks his new vintage car is the bee’s knees.
Other ways to say it: The cat’s pajamas; excellent; fantastic.

10. Knock it out of the park

Meaning: To do something exceptionally well; to have a resounding success.
Use in a sentence: She really knocked it out of the park with her final presentation.
Other ways to say it: To hit a home run; to succeed brilliantly.

11. A-game

Meaning: One’s highest level of performance. Often used with “bring.”
Use in a sentence: You need to bring your A-game if you want to win this championship.
Other ways to say it: Peak performance; one’s best effort.

12. Pass with flying colors

Meaning: To pass a test or evaluation with a very high score; to succeed easily.
Use in a sentence: Despite being nervous, she passed her driving test with flying colors.
Other ways to say it: To ace a test; to succeed with distinction.

13. Take the cake

Meaning: To be the most remarkable or extreme example of something (can be used positively or negatively).
Use in a sentence: I’ve seen a lot of great plays, but this one takes the cake.
Other ways to say it: To top it all; to be the ultimate example.

14. A cut above the rest

Meaning: Noticeably better than others.
Use in a sentence: His attention to detail makes his work a cut above the rest.
Other ways to say it: Superior; a higher caliber.

15. Get the best of both worlds

Meaning: To enjoy the advantages of two different things at the same time.
Use in a sentence: Living in the suburbs but working in the city, she gets the best of both worlds.
Other ways to say it: To have it all; to enjoy a perfect combination.

16. Save the best for last

Meaning: To keep the most exciting or enjoyable part of something until the end.
Use in a sentence: The concert was great, but they saved the best for last by playing their biggest hit as the encore.
Other ways to say it: To keep the highlight until the end.

17. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

Meaning: To be optimistic about the future but ready for any potential problems.
Use in a sentence: When planning the outdoor event, our motto was to hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
Other ways to say it: To be cautiously optimistic; to have a contingency plan.

18. In a class of its own

Meaning: So superior that it cannot be compared to others.
Use in a sentence: The handmade Italian sports car was in a class of its own.
Other ways to say it: Uniquely superior; incomparable.

19. To have the Midas touch

Meaning: To have the ability to make anything one is involved with very successful or profitable.
Use in a sentence: Everything that entrepreneur invests in succeeds; she really has the Midas touch.
Other ways to say it: To be very successful in business; to turn everything to gold.

20. To steal the show

Meaning: To attract the most attention and praise, especially when not expected to.
Use in a sentence: The lead actor was great, but the little dog on stage completely stole the show.
Other ways to say it: To be the main attraction; to upstage everyone.

21. To be on top of the world

Meaning: To feel extremely happy and ecstatic.
Use in a sentence: After getting the promotion, he felt like he was on top of the world.
Other ways to say it: To be on cloud nine; to be overjoyed.

22. To come out on top

Meaning: To win or be the most successful in a competition or difficult situation.
Use in a sentence: Despite a tough start, the team worked hard and came out on top.
Other ways to say it: To emerge victorious; to be the winner.

23. Pick of the bunch

Meaning: The best choice from a group of options.
Use in a sentence: Of all the applicants, she was clearly the pick of the bunch.
Other ways to say it: The best of the lot; the top choice.

24. Out of this world

Meaning: Extremely good or impressive.
Use in a sentence: The chef’s new dessert is out of this world.
Other ways to say it: Incredible; amazing; superb.

25. To be in a league of your own

Meaning: To be far better than others you are competing against.
Use in a sentence: With his level of skill, the chess champion is in a league of his own.
Other ways to say it: To be unmatched; to be unparalleled.

26. To make the best of a bad situation

Meaning: To deal with a difficult situation as well as possible and create the best possible outcome.
Use in a sentence: When the flight was cancelled, we made the best of a bad situation and explored the city for a day.
Other ways to say it: To turn lemons into lemonade; to look on the bright side.

27. Dressed to the nines

Meaning: To be dressed in one’s best, most fashionable, or formal clothing.
Use in a sentence: Everyone at the gala was dressed to the nines.
Other ways to say it: Dressed to kill; looking sharp.

28. Your Sunday best

Meaning: Your best clothes, traditionally worn for church on Sundays.
Use in a sentence: We had to wear our Sunday best for the family portrait.
Other ways to say it: Formal attire; best clothes.

29. To hit the jackpot

Meaning: To achieve great success, often through luck.
Use in a sentence: He hit the jackpot when he found a rare comic book at the flea market.
Other ways to say it: To strike it rich; to get lucky.

30. Man’s best friend

Meaning: A common and affectionate name for a dog.
Use in a sentence: It’s easy to see why they call dogs man’s best friend; they are so loyal.
Other ways to say it: A faithful companion.

31. To beat the band

Meaning: To do something with great energy, speed, or volume; to a surprising degree.
Use in a sentence: The wind was blowing to beat the band, making it hard to walk.
Other ways to say it: Amazingly; impressively.

32. The cat’s pajamas

Meaning: An old-fashioned term for something that is excellent or stylish.
Use in a sentence: She thought her new flapper dress was the cat’s pajamas.
Other ways to say it: The bee’s knees; wonderful; stylish.

33. To get a gold star

Meaning: To receive praise or acknowledgement for a good job.
Use in a sentence: The intern gets a gold star for organizing all those files so efficiently.
Other ways to say it: To get a pat on the back; to earn praise.

34. A tough act to follow

Meaning: A person or performance so good that it is difficult for anyone coming after to be as good.
Use in a sentence: The previous CEO was so successful that she will be a tough act to follow.
Other ways to say it: To set a high bar; to leave big shoes to fill.

35. To be on a roll

Meaning: To be experiencing a prolonged period of success or good luck.
Use in a sentence: After winning five games in a row, the team is really on a roll.
Other ways to say it: To be on a winning streak; to be having a lucky spell.

36. To have it made

Meaning: To be in a very good situation with no worries about the future.
Use in a sentence: With his new job and secure investments, he feels like he has it made.
Other ways to say it: To be set for life; to be sitting pretty.

37. To set the world on fire

Meaning: To do something remarkable that brings great acclaim and success.
Use in a sentence: The young inventor is determined to set the world on fire with her new technology.
Other ways to say it: To achieve great things; to become famous.

38. The GOAT (Greatest Of All Time)

Meaning: A modern acronym used to describe someone considered the absolute best ever in their field.
Use in a sentence: With all his championships, many consider Michael Jordan to be the GOAT of basketball.
Other ways to say it: The greatest ever; a legend.

39. To break the mold

Meaning: To do something in a new way that is very different from what came before.
Use in a sentence: The architect broke the mold with her unconventional and stunning building design.
Other ways to say it: To be a trailblazer; to be innovative.

40. To get the best of someone

Meaning: To defeat or outwit someone; for an emotion to overwhelm someone.
Use in a sentence: His nerves got the best of him, and he forgot his lines during the speech.
Other ways to say it: To overcome someone; to be overcome by emotion.

Fill-in-the-Blank Exercise

Instructions: Complete each sentence with the most appropriate idiom from the list above.

The special effects in that movie were truly ________________________.
She was disappointed to lose the job, but she soon realized it was all ________________________.
The new virtual reality headset is being called ________________________ by tech enthusiasts.
His presentation was good, but the next speaker’s was so dynamic that she completely ________________________.
When going for your first audition, you have to ________________________.
The small, family-owned restaurant is ________________________; no chain can compare to its quality.
The valedictorian’s speech will be a ________________________ for the student who speaks next.
I know you’re nervous about the exam, but you studied hard and will ________________________.
He works from home in the countryside, so he gets ________________________.
The scouts who visited the training camp said the young quarterback was the ________________________.
With her talent and drive, that singer is destined to ________________________.
I’ve had some good burgers, but this one ________________________!
The negotiators managed to ________________________ and find a solution that worked for everyone.
After winning three contracts this week, our sales team is really ________________________.
The quality of her handmade jewelry is simply ________________________.

Answer Key

out of this world
for the best
the best thing since sliced bread
stole the show
put your best foot forward
second to none
tough act to follow
pass with flying colors
the best of both worlds
cream of the crop / pick of the bunch
set the world on fire
takes the cake
make the best of a bad situation
on a roll
top-notch

Conclusion

Mastering idioms is like adding a new dimension to your communication skills. The phrases we’ve explored, all centered on the idea of “best,” provide us with dynamic and powerful ways to express excellence, success, and optimism. Incorporating these idioms into your vocabulary will not only make your writing more engaging but will also enhance your emotional intelligence.

Understanding these nuanced expressions helps you better interpret the underlying meaning in conversations and connect more deeply with the emotions of others. It’s a skill that refines both how you express yourself and how you understand the world, leading to richer and more effective communication.