crop

cream of the crop

Fig. the best of all. This particular car is the cream of the crop. These three students are very bright. They are the cream of the crop in their class.

See also: cream

crop someone or something out

[for a photographer] to cut or trim out someone or something from a photograph. The photographer cropped Mr. Jones out of the picture. See if you can crop out the ugly fence at the side of the house.

See also: out

crop out

to appear on the surface; [for something] to reveal itself in the open; to begin to show above the surface. A layer of rock cropped out at the edges of the desert.

See also: out

crop up

to appear without warning; to happen suddenly; [for something] to begin to reveal itself in the open. Some new problems cropped up at the last minute.

See also: up

Good seed makes a good crop.

Prov. Starting with good materials will help you get good results. Jill: Elsie and Jim are going to have a baby. Jane: I'm sure it will be a good child, since they're both such good people. Good seed makes a good crop. I am sure Robert's business will flourish. He's capable and honest, and good seed makes a good crop.

See also: good, make, seed

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the cream of the crop

the best of a particular group These artists are the best of this year's graduates - the cream of the crop.

See also: cream

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crop up

to appear by chance Officials fear that the virus could crop up in the United States. Interest in international issues has cropped up on many university campuses.

Related vocabulary: come up

See also: up

the cream of the crop

the best of a particular group This editorial staff isn't the cream of the crop, but it's not as bad as you say.

Opposite of: bottom of the barrel

Etymology: based on the idea that cream is the best part of milk

See also: cream