to be at the top of one's class, or at the top of the school

I passed a work train and cleanup gang, the mudbucket scooping gray slime from the tracks, the crew repairing the sensor wire that warns a control room in the city ...

Still, there were hints that other delegations were willing to consider language that would allow North Korea eventually to have some sort of peaceful-use nuclear programme -- if not light-water reactors -- if it rejoined international nuclear non-proliferation treaties and allowed international inspectors in.

Chiacchia had to relearn the basics of walking and tying his shoes, but is now back competing in eventing.