[General] pink of perfection

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to tell me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentence?

Francis was the pink of perfection this morning in a brown suit, garnet tie… His shoes were immaculately polished, and his young, healthy face glistened.

pink of perfection = acme of perfection

Thanks for your efforts.

Regard,

V

 

[Rover_KE]

What's the context, Vil?

I've never heard of that.

Rover

 

[vil]

The sentence of question is from the Dreiser’s “The Titan”

pink = the highest or best degree: in the pink of health

The very pink of perfection. — Oliver Goldsmith, Source: She Stoops to Conquer

acme = the highest point, as of achievement or development: reached the acme of her career

V.

 

[Rover_KE]

Right.

That's another new expression I've learnt.

Rover

 

[philadelphia]

*Not a teacher as you know

Yes, and "Pink" is very often used in the sense of "great" or "the highest", eg "I'm in the pink today" meaning I'm in very good health; "John is in the pink of [something]" meaning "highest of".