top drawer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, slightly dated but still understood. Used more in spoken English and descriptive writing than formal contexts.
Quick answer
What does “top drawer” mean?
Of the highest quality, excellence, or importance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Of the highest quality, excellence, or importance; first-rate.
Referring to someone or something belonging to the highest social class, elite status, or superior rank. Can describe both objects and people.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in British English, but understood and used in American English. In the US, 'top-notch' or 'first-rate' might be more frequent equivalents.
Connotations
In British English, can carry stronger connotations of social class and breeding. In American English, leans more towards quality and excellence.
Frequency
Medium-low frequency in both variants. Considered a somewhat traditional idiom.
Grammar
How to Use “top drawer” in a Sentence
be + top drawerconsidered + top drawerregarded as + top drawerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “top drawer” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- His command of the cello is simply top drawer.
- It was a top drawer effort from the whole team, securing the promotion.
American English
- The engineering on this prototype is top drawer.
- She's a top drawer litigator, known for winning tough cases.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe elite talent, premium products, or exceptional service. 'We only recruit top drawer management consultants.'
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing. May appear in humanities discussing social stratification.
Everyday
To praise something/something highly. 'The meal at that new restaurant was top drawer.'
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “top drawer”
- Using it literally (*'I put my socks in the top drawer.'*).
- Using it with comparatives/superlatives (*'more top drawer', 'the most top drawer'*) – it is non-gradable.
- Misspelling as 'top-drawer' (hyphenated form is acceptable but less common).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it commonly describes people of exceptional ability, quality, or (in British English) social standing. E.g., 'They're top drawer engineers.'
Both forms are accepted. 'Top drawer' (two words) is more common, especially in UK English. The hyphenated form 'top-drawer' is often used attributively before a noun in US English (e.g., 'a top-drawer act').
Idiomatic opposites include 'bottom of the barrel', 'run-of-the-mill', or 'second-rate'. There isn't a direct idiomatic counterpart like 'bottom drawer' with the opposite meaning.
It is informal. While it conveys high praise, it is more suited to speech, journalism, and descriptive writing than to formal reports or academic papers.
Of the highest quality, excellence, or importance.
Top drawer: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtɒp ˈdrɔː(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtɑːp ˈdrɔːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “out of the top drawer (UK: meaning from a superior background or of exceptional quality)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a jewellery box: the most precious items (like diamonds) are kept in the TOP DRAWER.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUALITY IS HIGH STATUS (Social hierarchy mapped onto quality assessment).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the idiom 'top drawer' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?