cordon bleu
1. noun One who has earned the highest distinction in one's field, especially a chef. After studying with master chefs in France, Betty became a cordon bleu herself. Was Julia Child a cordon bleu? He's never been one to push himself, so he'll never become a cordon bleu—or anything more than average in his field.
2. adjective Of the highest distinction in one's field. After studying with master chefs in France, Betty became a cordon bleu chef herself. These are the cordon bleu minds of the tech world. Learn all you can from them! Any EGOT winner is a cordon bleu performer in my mind.
3. adjective Of food that has been prepared to the highest standard. At a five-star restaurant like that, you're guaranteed to get a cordon bleu dish. What is this dreck? Considering your reputation—and exorbitant prices—I expect a cordon bleu meal! They're real foodies, so expect nothing but cordon bleu hors d'oeuvres during their wedding cocktail hour.
4. adjective Stuffed with ham and cheese and then fried, as in the dish chicken cordon bleu. You don't need to make me a fancy dish like chicken cordon bleu—I'm fine with chicken nuggets! I like to cook and wanted a challenge, so I made chicken cordon bleu. It actually came out really well! She's four years old, Mom—of course she's not going to eat chicken cordon bleu with you and Dad.
cordon off
To restrict access to a particular area by using a rope, tape, or other means. A noun or pronoun can be used between "cordon" and "off." That section of the restaurant has been cordoned off for a private party. Somebody famous must be here if they've cordoned the whole first floor off! The bouncers let a bunch of people in but cordoned off the door when we got to the front of the line!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
cordon something off
to mark off an area where people should not go with a rope, tape, ribbon, etc. The police cordoned the scene of the crime off, and we could not even get close. They cordoned off the area.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.