a class act
noun phrase

- a person or group with great style and skill

- if you say that someone such as a sports player or a performer is a class act, you mean that they are very good at what they do

Macmillan Dictionary / Collins Dictionary

—
PHRASE ORIGIN

The use of “class”, in the sense of “elegant, refined, tasteful” originated in the second half of the 1800s in sports, where it described an athlete with such admirable qualities. The word “act” was added in the second half of the 1900s.

—
4 TOP CLASS ACTS

- Muhammad Ali (in sports) = Ali was not only one of the greatest boxers of all time, but he was also known for his charity work and social activism. He used his platform and fame to speak out against injustice and to promote peace and understanding.

- Marie Curie (in science) = Not only was she a pioneering scientist who made important contributions to the fields of physics and chemistry, but she was also a strong advocate for women’s education and equality. Despite facing significant barriers and discrimination due to her gender, she persevered and became the first woman to win two Nobel Prizes.

- Meryl Streep (in film & theatre) = With a career spanning over four decades, Streep is widely regarded as one of the greatest actresses of all time. In addition to her acting talent, she is known for her graciousness and professionalism, both on and off the stage. She has received numerous awards and accolades for her performances, as well as for her charitable work and advocacy.

- Nelson Mandela (in politics) = Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He is known for his leadership, wisdom, and integrity, and for his efforts to bring about reconciliation and healing in a country that had been deeply divided by racial segregation and discrimination. Despite facing immense challenges and adversity, Mandela remained committed to non-violent resistance and to the promotion of human rights and justice.

—
SYNONYMS

- endowed with special abilities indicative of skill or talent

A1, accomplished, A CLASS ACT, ace, ahead of one’s peers, awesome, big/major-league, champion, crackerjack, exceptionally/extraordinarily good (skilled), exemplary, exquisite, faultless, first-class (-rate), flawless, golden, highly endowed (qualified, skilled), impeccable, know one’s business (onions, stuff, the ropes, the score), magic, magisterial, number-one, out of this world, outstanding, peerless, prodigious, Promethean, shining at, spot-on, star, stellar, stupendous, superlative, supreme, tip-top, top-drawer (-hole, -notch), topflight, unrivaled, whiz, wicked, wizard, world-class

—
SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

"Have you seen Meryl Streep's portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in the film "The Iron Lady" (2011), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress? It's A CLASS ACT performance."

—
Every month, the Smith-Family spends evening and weekend hours researching and writing your daily word.

OWAD has remained FREE, Ad-free, and alive thanks to kind donations from appreciative readers.

HERZLICHEN DANK if you are already supporting us. If not, please consider a single or recurring donation—even the equivalent of a single cup of coffee a month will help us cover mailing, site-hosting, and maintenance costs. Just head over to:

https://donorbox.org/please-become-a-friend-of-owad-5-2

or if you prefer to bank transfer:

Paul Smith, IBAN: DE75 7316 0000 0002 5477 40