Top Notch
Posted by Bruce Kahl on February 16, 2002
In Reply to: Top Notch posted by James Briggs on February 16, 2002
: I'm looking
for suggestions as to the origin/background of this phrase - there's nothing I
can find in the archives.
: Thanks
Pasted from the Word-Detective:
"The term "top notch" originated in some sort of game or competition where the score was kept by moving markers upward on a notched board or stick. The winner, presumably would be the one whose marker reached the top notch first, making "top notch" a fitting metaphor for "the best."