verb
1. remove from the surface
-
skim cream from the surface of milk
• Verb Frames:
-
Somebody ——s something
2. pick the best
• Syn: ↑skim off
• Verb Frames:
-
Somebody ——s something
-
Somebody ——s somebody
* * *
cream off [phrasal verb]
cream off (someone or something) or cream (someone or something) off chiefly Brit : to remove (the best part) from something : to take (someone or something) away for yourself
Most of the profit was creamed off by the government.
The best students are creamed off to attend other schools.
• • •
Main Entry: ↑cream
Useful english dictionary. 2012.