Of the highest quality or caliber; premium grade merchandise or performance.
Originating from retail practices where the most expensive and highest quality items were literally placed on the top shelves of stores, both to prevent theft and to display them prominently. The phrase gained popularity in the early 20th century and extended beyond retail to describe anything of superior quality.
The physical logic behind this phrase is both practical and psychological - valuable items placed high up are harder to steal and create a sense of aspiration, literally making customers 'reach higher' for quality. In hockey, 'top shelf' specifically refers to scoring in the upper part of the goal, maintaining the height metaphor for excellence.
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