blue-ribbon
UK[ˌbluː ˈrɪbən]US[ˌbluː ˈrɪbən]
adj
of the highest quality or distinction; first-class.
adj
relating to or being a panel, committee, or jury selected for its outstanding qualifications or impartiality.
Morpheme Breakdown
blue
ribbon
blue
color
ribbon
strip of fabric
Etymology
the term "blue-ribbon" originates from the practice of awarding a blue ribbon as a first prize in competitions, particularly at agricultural fairs and livestock shows in 19th-century england. the color blue, historically associated with high status and the order of the garter, lent its prestige to the symbol. the literal combination of the color and the prize object evolved into a fixed compound adjective denoting supreme quality or a select group of the highest caliber, detached from its physical referent.
Analysis
Structure: blue (color) + ribbon (strip of fabric)
blue (from old english 'blāw', a color term, used attributively to denote quality or distinction); ribbon (from old french 'riban', a strip of fabric used as a prize or symbol of honor).
Examples
the case was heard by a blue-ribbon panel of legal experts.
she served on the blue-ribbon commission investigating government reform.
it was a blue-ribbon event, attracting the country's top chefs and critics.