‘Best Thing Since Sliced Bread’: Definition, Meaning and Examples

By Shanea Patterson, updated on April 13, 2023

Have you ever heard someone say something is the ‘best thing since sliced bread’? Are you unsure of the meaning of this phrase? We’ll go over the meaning and origin, plus teach you how to use the phrase in a sentence.

In short:

  • ‘Best thing since sliced bread’ means something is very good or useful.

Essentially, it’s a way to let someone know that you’re very excited about something or someone.

What Does ‘Best Thing Since Sliced Bread’ Mean?

‘Best thing since sliced bread’ is a common English phrase that people use to describe something wonderful or extraordinary. You might hear it after someone’s received great news they were expecting or if they just bought something they’re really excited about.

For example, if someone has just purchased a car they’ve been wanting for a long time, they might say:

This is the best thing since sliced bread! Look at all the bells and whistles!

In season 12, episode 7 of Family Guy, Peter, and Quagmire are starting a band. Peter says to Quagmire:

            We’re gonna be the best thing since sliced bread!

He’s telling Quagmire that their band is going to be great, that people are going to love them.

  • You might also hear alternate versions of the phrase.

In the movie Hercules, the love interest, Meg, tells Hercules that people think he’s:

'…the greatest thing since they put the pocket in pita'

She’s basically telling him that people think he’s amazing, great, and spectacular. The phrase is synonymous with 'best thing since sliced bread.'

Where Does ‘Best Thing Since Sliced Bread’ Come From? 

The phrase ‘best thing since sliced bread’ is said to come from famous comedian Red Skeleton.

In 1952, in an interview with the Salisbury Times, he said:

'Don’t worry about television. It’s the greatest thing since sliced bread.'

However, other sources say it comes from The Northern Whig of Belfast, Ireland. Supposedly, the phrase was published on Thursday, March 8, 1951, by American journalist Dorothy Kilgallen, who was writing about British film actor Stewart Granger.

The quote reads:

'He is the greatest thing since sliced bread!'

Examples of ‘Best Thing Since Sliced Bread’ in Sentences

How would you use ‘best thing since sliced bread’ in a sentence?

Let’s look at some examples:

  • I love Lizzo! I think she’s the best thing since sliced bread to come out of the music industry. She inspires me to be who I am and not care what anyone else thinks about it.
  • I chose to go to Paris for the entire summer, and I think I made the right decision. Being here has truly been the best thing since sliced bread for me.
  • The new Ariana Grande album is the best thing since sliced bread. I literally love every single song on there. I don’t know how she did it!
  • I love Steve Carell in The Office. His character, Michael Scott, is definitely one French fry short of a happy meal, but watching it is the best thing since sliced bread.
  • In the movie, The Notebook, Noah seems to think that Allie is the best thing since sliced bread. Even after she denied him several times after moving, he kept on loving her.
  • Parents usually think their kids are the best thing since sliced bread, no matter how the rest of the world feels about them. Sometimes, the parents are right, and sometimes they’re wrong.
  • In the show Girls, Hannah initially thinks that her friend with benefits, Adam, is the best thing since sliced bread. Eventually, she learns how broken they both are and sees him for who he really is.
  • I think Maya Angelou was the best thing since sliced bread. I love her work. I really wish I could have met her before she passed away. But I guess it wasn’t meant to be.

Other Ways to Say ‘Best Thing Since Sliced Bread’

What other words or phrases convey the same meaning as ‘best thing since sliced bread’?

Let’s see some examples:

  • Perfection
  • Ideal
  • Great
  • Amazing
  • Spectacular
  • One in a million
  • Epitome of greatness
  • Jewel
  • Paragon
  • Exemplar
  • Standard of perfection
  • Ultimate
  • Dream/a dream come true
  • Pinnacle
  • The bee’s knees
  • Crème de la crème
  • Highest
  • Greatest possible extent
  • Best in the world
  • Best in class
  • High-quality
  • Beau ideal
  • Cat’s pajamas
  • Mother of all
  • Most fashionable
  • Cat’s whiskers
  • Best specimen
  • Astonishing
  • Mind-blowing
  • Unbelievable
  • Remarkable
  • Breathtaking
  • Fascinating
  • Marvelous
  • Surprising
  • Miraculous
  • Mind-boggling
  • Awe-inspiring
  • Awesome
  • Thrilling
  • Sensational
  • Enchanting
  • Enthralling
  • Heart-stirring
  • Mind-bending
  • Wonderful
  • Buzzworthy

Concluding Advice on ‘Best Thing Since Sliced Bread’

To recap, we learned the following:

  • ‘Best thing since sliced bread’ means something is very good or useful.

Essentially, it’s a way to let someone know that you’re very excited about something or someone.

If you ever get stuck on anything, feel free to revisit this page to review what you learned. We’ve also got a whole library of content dedicated to explaining confusing idioms. Feel free to check it out anytime.

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Written By:
Shanea Patterson
Shanea Patterson is a writer based in New York and loves writing for brands big and small. She has a master's degree in professional writing from New York University and a bachelor's degree in English from Mercy College.

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