be the jewel in the crown
To be prized as the best, most valuable, or most important person or thing of someone's or something's kind. Likened to a precious jewel that is featured on a monarch's or sovereign's regalia. I have a large collection of vintage cars, but this 1965 Corvette Stingray is the jewel in the crown. I've always considered Shakespeare to be the jewel of the crown when it comes to English drama. If you ask me, Ella's the jewel in the crown. She's by far the most talented person in the company.
crown jewel
1. A precious jewel that is part of or featured on a monarch's or sovereign's regalia. Just one crown jewel from the Queen's regalia is worth enough money to buy a small country. My goodness, that crown jewel is an actual ruby, isn't it? Good luck stealing a crown jewel—those things are under constant surveillance.
2. An asset or possession prized as being the best of a group of similar things. This vintage 1965 Corvette Stingray is the crown jewel of my car collection. The works of Shakespeare are the crown jewels of English drama. If you ask me, Ella's the crown jewel. She's by far the most talented person in the company.
crown jewels
1. The precious jewels, and the regalia or which they are featured, of a monarch or sovereign, as worn or used on a state occasion. One of the greatest mysteries of 20th-century Ireland was the case of the Irish Crown Jewels, which were stolen from Dublin Castle in 1907 and never recovered. The crown jewels are under constant surveillance when not in use by the King. A: "An occasion like this call for the crown jewels, does it not?" B: "Yes, yes, go fetch the crown and scepter."
2. euphemism, slang A male's genitals, especially the testicles. When she heard he had an affair, she kicked him right in the crown jewels. You're a fool if you don't wear an athletic cup to protect the crown jewels out on the field. Yeah, I don't think he's feeling too great after taking that ball to the crown jewels.
family jewels
slang Male genitalia, especially the testicles. An allusion to the testes' role in producing offspring and thus maintaining the family line. When she heard he had an affair, she kicked him right in the family jewels. Ouch, that foul ball hit the catcher right in the family jewels. Dude, why wouldn't you protect the family jewels and just wear a cup?
the jewel in (someone's or something's) crown
An asset, possession, or accomplishment prized as being the best thing someone or something possesses or has done. I have a lot of gorgeous cars, but this vintage 1965 Corvette Stingray is the jewel in my crown. The works of Shakespeare are the jewels in the crown of English drama.
the jewel in the crown
An asset or possession prized as being the best, most valuable, or most important of its kind. Likened to a precious jewel that is featured on a monarch's or sovereign's regalia. This vintage 1965 Corvette Stingray is the jewel in the crown of my car collection. The works of Shakespeare are the jewels in the crown of English drama.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
crown jewels
1. A prized possession or asset, as in The Iliad and Odyssey are the crown jewels of ancient literature, or The software products are the company's crown jewels. This usage transfers the value of royal jewels to some other object. [Late 1800s]
2. Also, family jewels. The male genitals, especially the testicles. For example, She gave the would-be mugger a hard kick in the family jewels. A slang euphemism, the term dates from the 1970s, and the variant from the early 1900s.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
the jewel in someone's/something's crown
or the jewel in the crown of someone/something
COMMON If something or someone is the jewel in someone's or something's crown or the jewel in the crown of someone or something, it is the best thing they have, or their greatest achievement. He has written a number of excellent books but this novel is surely the jewel in his crown. The jewel in the architectural crown of North Yorkshire is almost certainly Castle Howard. Note: This expression was known in Victorian times, but is probably most well known as the title of a novel by Paul Scott, published in 1966, that formed part of a series set in the Raj, or Victorian India. In this title, India is seen as the `jewel', and the `crown' is the British Empire.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012