From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishthe cream of somethingthe cream of somethingBESTthe best people or things from a group the cream of Europe’s athletes The students at this college are the cream of the crop (=the best of all). → cream
Examples from the Corpus
the cream of something• She is kept company by kindred spirits, such as Uncle Ben and the Cream of Wheat cook.• There were a great many people milling around, the cream of Spaxton society, indeed, many of whom she knew or recognised.• But it was on the continent that the cream of the drivers could be found.• Through Brooke and his own contacts, he had entry to the cream of Hollywood parties and the cream of Hollywood society.• He was the cream of the crop. 