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The meaning and origin of the expression: Top notch

Top notch

What's the meaning of the phrase 'Top notch'?

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Excellent.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Top notch'?

'Top notch' is of American origin and followed on from the earlier, British 'topping'. The US also later adopted 'the tops'. All these phrases mean the same thing. Presumably, those who were 'top notch' had avoided the indignity of being 'taken down a peg'.

The earliest example I've found of 'top notch' in print is in a letter to the Huron Reflector, May 1845:

"Now, Messrs. Editors, perhaps I have lived too long in the woods, to know exactly what makes good manners in the very top notch of society."

See other phrases that were coined in the USA.

Gary Martin - the author of the phrases.org.uk website.

By Gary Martin

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

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