[Vocabulary] to select and others

[dilodi83]

- The Professor selected the best students from his class.
- The Professor chose the best students from his class.
- The Professor creamed off the best students in his class.
- The Professor picked the best students out of his class.
- The Professor narrowed down the class, choosing the best students.

Are these sentences good and do they mean the same concept?
Which is the most natural for a mothertongue?
Do they sound good both in American and in British English?

Thank you very much for your replies.

 

[dilodi83]

Any help?

 

[MikeNewYork]

- The Professor selected the best students from his class.
- The Professor chose the best students from his class.
- The Professor creamed off the best students in his class.
- The Professor picked the best students out of his class.
- The Professor narrowed down the class, choosing the best students.

Are these sentences good and do they mean the same concept?
Which is the most natural for a mothertongue?
Do they sound good both in American and in British English?

Thank you very much for your replies.

The first two are the best; "in" could also be used. The third is not good. The fourth would be OK, but "out" is confusing. I would use "from" or "in". The fifth is odd.

 

[Rover_KE]

dilodi, please note that 'a mothertongue' is incorrect.

You need to say 'a native speaker'.

Rover

 

[dilodi83]

Why isn't the third good? In what context would you use it?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Why isn't the third good? In what context would you use it?

I doubt that I would ever use. It sounds like cooking class.

 

[5jj]

The third would be fine in BrE and, apparently, to some in AmE: cream off - definition. American English definition of cream off by Macmillan Dictionary

 

[Barb_D]

I've never heard that one before. I understood the intended meaning (skimming the cream off the top). Glad to know it's good in BrE though.