This blue ribbon service is the best in the city.
blue ribbon
idiomHighly superior in quality, style, substance, prestige, etc.
Origin
disputed originPerhaps a calque of Middle French cordon bleu (“blue ribbon”), worn by knights of the Order of the Holy Spirit, or after Blue Riband, a sailing award.
The company hired a blue ribbon team of experts to solve the difficult technical problem.
The university committee selected a blue ribbon panel of scholars to review the controversial research findings and ensure their absolute accuracy.
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blue chamber
A forbidden room.
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blue devils
Low spirits; depression.
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blue moon
A long time.
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blue note
The flatted 5th scale degree in the blues scale.
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blue state
A state of the United States voting Democratic in a given election, or tending to vote Democratic in general.
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blue wall of silence
Strict secretiveness maintained by the members of a police force with respect to information which might be contrary to their interests, especially information concerning questionable police actions.
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bolt from the blue
A complete surprise; something totally unexpected.
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clear blue water
An obvious, unambiguous divide between the policies of two parties.