Translation

• to come first in triennial palace examinations (idiom, refers to the carved stone turtle head in front of the imperial palace, next to which the most successful candidate in the imperial examinations was entitled to stand)
• to be the champion
• to be the very best in any field

Synonyms

• 一枝独秀, 一流, 一花独放, 人才出众, 典型, 冒尖儿, 出人头地, 出众, 出类拔萃, 加人一等, 卓然, 卓绝, 卓著, 卓越, 名列前茅, 名列榜首, 堪称一绝, 天下无双, 天下第一, 头角峥嵘, 拔尖儿, 数一数二, 数不着, 数得着, 杰出, 榜首, 特异, 独秀一枝, 独立, 登峰造极, 百里挑一, 突出, 第一流, 至高无上, 超人, 超凡入圣, 超尘拔俗, 超绝, 超群, 超群绝伦, 首屈一指, 鹤立鸡群