First-rate

AONE

Think of a phrase that means "the very best" and sounds like a letter followed by a number you might see on a report card.

"First-rate" is a phrase that literally means top quality, but in crosswords, it often hints at the letter "A" (the top grade) followed by "one" to emphasize its rank. Here, "A" plus "ONE" gives you "AONE," a playful way to spell out the idea of being number one. It’s a straightforward charade clue where the parts combine to form the answer.