blue ribbon

¹

[ bloo rib-uhn ]

noun

1. the highest award or distinction, as the first prize in a contest:

   His entry at the state fair won a blue ribbon.

2. a blue ribbon worn as a badge of honor, especially by members of the Order of the Garter of the British knighthood.
3. (initial capital letters) Also British, Blue Ribband. (formerly) a prize awarded to an ocean liner making the fastest recorded trip across the Atlantic Ocean between Ambrose Lightship and Bishop Rock.
4. a badge used by some temperance organizations to indicate a pledge of abstinence from alcohol.

blue-ribbon

²

[ bloo-rib-uhn ]

adjective

1. of superior quality or prominence; first-rate; specially selected:

   a blue-ribbon committee of fund-raisers.

blue ribbon

noun

1. (in Britain) a badge of blue silk worn by members of the Order of the Garter
2. a badge awarded as the first prize in a competition
3. a badge worn by a member of a temperance society

Word History and Origins

Origin of blue ribbon¹

First recorded in 1645–55

Origin of blue ribbon²

First recorded in 1925–30; adj. use of blue ribbon

Example Sentences

As a cook, after college, I drank Pabst Blue Ribbon along with the rest of the team.

From The Daily Beast

Establishing a blue-ribbon commission in the midst of scandal is a time-honored Washington tradition.

From The Daily Beast

The family-owned company that revived Pabst Blue Ribbon has been given the go-ahead to purchase Hostess out of bankruptcy.

From The Daily Beast

Passing the buck to a blue ribbon commission like Erskine-Bowles was tried and has failed.

From The Daily Beast

No one can do it for them—not pollsters, not blue-ribbon commissions, not even elections.

From The Daily Beast

Everybody wears blue ribbon here, but I don't, because I don't want to get tipsy anyhow.

From Project Gutenberg

My blue ribbon had long ago worn out, and with it my strict views on Temperance.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. Avory patted the small head, and smoothed out the blue ribbon that tied up the tuft of black curls.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a single silky curl, of a beautiful reddish gold, tied daintily with blue ribbon.

From Project Gutenberg

With Charlies toy drum strung round his neck on a narrow blue ribbon, he was distinctly mirth-inspiring.

From Project Gutenberg