a cut above
4
4.3
- idiom
:
superior
- He seemed a cut above the others.
- a cut above the rest
- a cut above the competition
- a cut above average
But the Alpha blades, I have to say, are a cut above.
- But the Alpha blades, I have to say, are a cut above.
- But but all of us one one thing I will say in terms of that, the people at Gardena, the people at Gardena really were a cut above that.
Examples
-
Craftsmanship is the key component in making Pros Choice masks a cut above the rest.
Blog text (20) -
When the military chose him to replace the governing High Council of State, he was regarded as a cut above the rest of the officer corps in honesty and competence.
Academic text (1997) -
Well, it's a cut above her previous vehicle.
-
You really are a cut above!
-
- You're a cut above the rest of this shower.
-
Glamorous Smile, though, is a cut above the rest.
Blog text (14) -
The recipes in this book are a cut above the dishes you'll find at your favorite Greek diner.
Blog text (3) -
Plump, maybe sixty years old, Reyna is clearly a cut above the other housekeepers.
Fiction book (1994) -
Dessert was also a cut above—authentic tiramisu and a mini chocolate souffle.
Blog text (23) -
This restaurant is clearly a cut above the rest, with its exquisite dishes and exceptional service.
Synonyms
203
4.2
Better in quality or performance than similar things
38
3.6
Of the highest quality and better than most similar things
9
3.8
Very high quality and lasts a long time
9
6.2
Of very high quality and among the best in its field
8
3.7
Very good quality and better than most others
6
4.3
Being much better than others at something
4
3.9
A product that has very high quality and is often the most expensive option
3
3.7
Of the highest quality, better than others like it
1
4.3
Slightly better than similar people or things in quality
Much better than others in the same field
Very good and the best in quality
Antonyms
How Good
Surface Forms
Morphology
The expression relates metaphorically to a comparative 'level' (a 'cut' as a degree) combined with 'above' to indicate a higher rank, so there is a compositional logic linking the parts to 'superior'. However, the noun sense of 'cut' meaning a level/notch is relatively specialized and the fixed phrasing 'a cut above' is idiomatic, so a B1 learner who knows the words may not reliably infer the idiomatic sense without prior exposure.
Etymology
A cut above may come from tailors long ago. A better cut made clothes fit and look nicer, so something a cut above is 'better' than others.