первой марки

• ВЫСШЕЙ <ПЕРВОЙ> МАРКИ coll

[NPgen; these forms only; nonagreeing postmodif; fixed WO]

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⇒ (usu. of some negative quality or phenomenon) to or of the highest degree:

- of the first (highest) order;

- of the first water;

- of (in) the first degree;

- first-class [NP];

- [in limited contexts] of the worst type.

     ♦ Насчёт газеты. Прямо завтра с утра: позвонить куда нужно, написать, свезти, безобразие вопиющее, вредительство высшей марки... (Трифонов 1). As far as the newspaper sketch was concerned, he must start in right away, the next morning. He should write it up, make phone calls wherever necessary, and deliver it in person. It was a crying shame, sabotage of the highest order... (1a).

     ♦ [Тамара:] А Гришка подонок оказался первой марки... (Панова 1). [Т.:] And Grishka turned out to be a first-class rat... (1a).