top-flightn.adj.
/ˌtɒpˈflʌɪt/, U.S. /ˌtɑpˈflaɪt/ A. n.
As two words. With the. The highest rank or level attainable; the highest category or bracket; (now often) spec. the top division of a football or other sports league.The spec. use is usually found in regions where association football is a major sport, e.g. in Britain, Ireland, and many countries in Africa.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [noun] > highest class of excellence
tiptoppishness1855
tiptopness1891
bollocks1981
1897 Edinb. Evening News 16 Sept. Rovers had captured a player destined to rise into the top flight of exponents of the socker code.
1950 Press & Jrnl. (Aberdeen) 27 Mar. 4/1 The chances are that Stirling Albion, after one season in the top flight, will accompany them to ‘B’ division.
1958 Times 19 July 3/4 Lifting himself into the top flight of English batsmen.
2012 Guardian 20 Oct. (Guide Suppl.) 10/1 Mac is part of the top flight of international DJs, with her own club night, mixtape series and huge shows in Ibiza.
2022 Sentinel (Stoke-on-Trent) (Nexis) 14 Jan. 44 I'm confident that with the owners' continued backing, Stoke will return to the top flight.
B. adj.
Of the highest rank or level; first-rate; (now often) spec. of or relating to the top division of a football or other sports league.The spec. use is usually found in regions where association football is a major sport, e.g. in Britain, Ireland, and many countries in Africa.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective] > very excellent or first-rate
gildenc1225
prime1402
rare1483
grand1542
holy1599
pre-excelling1600
paregal1602
classic1604
of (the) first rate1650
solary1651
first rate1674
superb1720
tip-top1722
tip-top-gallant1730
swell1819
topping1822
of the first (also finest, best, etc.) water1826
No. 11829
brag1836
A11837
A No. 11838
number one1839
awful1843
bully1851
first class1852
class1867
champion1880
too1881
tipping1887
alpha plus1898
bonzer1898
grade A1911
gold star1917
world-ranking1921
five-star1936
too much1937
first line1938
vintage1939
supercolossal1947
top1953
alpha1958
fantabulous1959
beauty1963
supercool1965
world-class1967
primo1973
1924 Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) 4 July 15/7 He is about to take his place as one of the outstanding top-flight tennis players of the world.
1959 J. Thurber Years with Ross viii. 138 Reporters..joined the staff, all of them top flight.
1967 Punch 20 Dec. 951/3 Good though it is, it isn't top-flight.
1980 Daily Tel. 9 Apr. 34/3 In truth their performance was hardly worthy of a top flight team.
2013 FourFourTwo Jan. 73/1 This to win City's first top-flight title in 44 years.
2021 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 8 Apr. a13/2 The scandal..prompted outrage against the ‘gold-spoon’ children of the elite, who glided into top-flight universities and cushy jobs.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2022).
<
n.adj.1897