class act

English

Noun

class act (plural class acts)

1. An excellent performance.
   • 2017 September 18, “Whangara Mai Tawhiti does it again”, in The Gisborne Herald‎^[1], archived from the original on 3 March 2021:

     Tairawhiti Cultural Development Trust chairman Maui Tangohau said it was a class act by the national champions.

2. Someone or something whose performance is excellent.
   • 2021 March 31, Phil McNulty, “England 2-1 Poland: What shape are Gareth Southgate's side in?”, in BBC Sport‎^[2]:

     Rice is maturing at such a rate that he is now indispensable. Yes, these qualifiers may not be the most exacting examinations but he has also looked a class act at club level under manager David Moyes this season.

3. (sometimes sarcastically) Someone or something who is generally well-mannered, conscientious, etc.

   You can count on Sam to help out afterwards, he's a real class act.

   Oh yeah, they're a real class act; they left their garbage all over the grass.

Synonyms

• (someone whose performance exhibits conscientiousness): mensch
• (someone whose performance exhibits extreme skillfulness): virtuoso

Antonyms

• boor

Translations

Translations

• Spanish: mishule de primera (El Salvador)

See also

• high-class
• top drawer

Further reading

• “class act”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.