Ah, the “upper crust”—no, not the top of your mind, but the elite of society! This layered phrase hails from yesteryears when the term for high society was indeed the literal upper layer of a pie or loaf—a delightfully crispy, well-baked metaphor coined by Thomas Haliburton in his Sam Slick tales from 1835. A great pie, after all, deserves to rub shoulders with the great and the good.
James Fenimore Cooper further sprinkled this term with politeness in 1850, emphasizing that the families of distinction were “our upper crust, not upper ten thousand.” Though we might not hear the phrase as often today, it still bakes our linguistic brains to a golden hue.
Related Terms and Synonyms:
- High Society: The crème de la crème, the elite
- The Aristocracy: Blue bloods, the nobility
- Upper Echelons: The higher-ups, the top tier
- Socialite: The movers and shakers
Antonyms:
- The Common Folk: The hoi polloi, the masses
- Lower Rungs: The lower class, the underprivileged
- Grassroots: The base, ordinary people
Humor-Filled Quotes:
- “I’m not saying I’m from high society, but even our croutons come from Paris.” – Gift of Gabby
Provocative Proverbs:
- “A golden spoon does not always dish out gold.”
Similar Concepts in Literature and Pop Culture:
- Books: “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald - Ah, the Jazz Age glitterati!
- Movies: “Gossip Girl” (TV series) - Where the upper crust have their bread buttered with drama.
- Songs: “Uptown Girl” by Billy Joel - Even crooning makes the crust seem plush.
- Poetry: “To the upper crust of society” - an ode to the distinguished.
Thank you for indulging in the flaky, golden goodness of the “upper crust.” Remember, in both bread and society, it’s what’s on the top that often gets the first bite! 🍰 Stay curious, keep questioning, and remember, it’s all about how you roll!
Yours in linguistic deliciousness, Eloise Fancypants
