Page 10 - Conversation 3

(5) Top-notch

Introduction

An expression that means something is very high quality. Learn it here.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2024/ep-240812

Transcript

Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English
speakers so that you can use them too. I'm Feifei, and I'm here with Beth.

Beth
Hi everyone, and hi Feifei, how are you?

Feifei
I'm very well, thank you. In this programme, we're actually going to learn a word that I heard
you say when you were talking about food. It was 'top-notch'.

Beth
Ah, yes! 'Top-notch'. So, yeah, earlier I was talking about going to my brother's house where I
had some amazing plant-based food. I couldn't believe how tasty it was with no meat or dairy. It
was top-notch.

Feifei
Oo sounds lovely. I'd love to try it! So, top-notch is an adjective that means something is of very
high standard or high quality. And we can use it for people too. I actually had some top-notch
food recently too.

Beth
Oo, what did you have?

Feifei
Well, I went to an independent café around the corner from my house and they make the best
carrot cake. It was top-notch, so delicious.

Beth
Mm, sounds really good.

Feifei
Beth, can we use 'top-notch' for things other than food?

Beth
Yes, we can. So, for example, I went to the theatre recently. I saw a show in the West End and it