The creativity of Mexicans and its reflection in language
One of the characteristics that distinguishes Mexicans is their creativity, which is manifested in different aspects of daily life, including language. It is common to use popular expressions to refer to various situations, and one of them is ‘the cream and cream’. But where does this phrase come from and what does it really mean? Coming up next, we tell you.
The meaning of ‘cream and cream’
When the expression ‘the cream and cream’ is used, it traditionally refers to people from the upper or wealthy class of society. This phrase represents a minority that concentrates most of the wealth. In addition, it can also be used to indicate something select, distinguished, the best or that stands out from the rest.
Origin of the expression
Although the exact origin of the expression ‘the cream and cream’ is not known with certainty, it is believed to be a derivation of the phrase ‘the cream of society’, which originated in Spain. This expression has become quite common in Spanish-speaking countries, although it is actually redundant, since ‘nata’ and ‘cream’ are synonyms to refer to the fat in milk.
It is important to mention that the correct way to use this expression is ‘the cream and cream’, since ‘the innate cream’ is considered an idiomatic error.
Use of the expression
The expression ‘the cream and cream’ can be used to talk about someone prominent, refer to people of a high social status or even to talk about someone very popular. Although its use has decreased today, it can still be found in some informal conversations.
