honorable mention

honorable mention

A recognition or citation of merit given to a contestant, exhibition, entry, etc., in a competition despite that person or thing not being awarded a prize or top honor. Primarily heard in US. My short story did not win a top place in the writing competition, but being given an honorable mention still gives me great pride.
See also: mention
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • a bad apple spoils the (whole) barrel
  • a rotten apple spoils the (whole) barrel
  • a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bunch
  • a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bushel
  • bushel
  • one rotten apple spoils the (whole) barrel
  • one rotten apple spoils the (whole) bunch
  • one rotten apple spoils the (whole) bushel
  • rotten apple spoils the barrel
  • it takes one bad apple to spoil the (whole) barrel
References in periodicals archive
Honorable mention: Dialing up a sports talk show with Bob Costas going off on the state of the game.
We know all about the flaws, but we live for moments of perfection: special achievements such as no-hitters and reaching historic milestones or simply listening to a game on the radio make baseball worth following
Honorable Mention: Canadian Health Care Management, MPL Communications.
Newsletter & Electronic Publishers Foundation's 26th annual Journalism Awards go to 43 winners from 26 companies
* Honorable Mention: Workforce Central Florida, Orlando, Fla.
Recognition of Excellence Awards presented at Workforce Innovations 2004
The Web site received an honorable mention for news coverage.
Synod coverage honored: journal, magazine, Web site get awards
Honorable Mention Bear at Bird Feeder in Lewey Lake Anthony S.
2000 CAMPGROUND PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS
All winners plus honorable mentions received a one-year membership.
AMERICAN FORESTS FIRST-EVER BIG TREE PHOTO CONTEST
The honorable mention listings follow the same pattern.
Rehab: A Comprehensive Guide to Recommended Drug-Alcohol Treatment Centers in the United States
The latter's work also earned an honorable mention from the state association as reporter of the year among Illinois community college journalists.
CLC Chronicle newspaper brings home 18 awards at statewide contest
Honorable Mention: Little Insect Project (Vanessa Wang, American High School, Fremont, California, USA)
AAAI at the Intel International Science and Engineering Awards
Hilliard of Pennington, Hopewell Valley Central High School, honorable mention
NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome Proudly Announces Its 2013 Children's Scholarship Award Winners
From left are Christina Favreau, director of Academic Programs; Adam Becotte of Winchendon, second place; Tiffany Cunningham of Gardner, honorable mention; Dana Symonds of Templeton, first place; Scott Batchelder of Gardner, third place; Patty Upshaw of Petersham, honorable mention, and English teachers Samantha McGuane and Kirsten Aubuchon.
Way to go!
There were two winners for the LED retrofit kit category: OSRAM Sylvania won for its ULTRA RT6 Gimbal and Lighting Science Group received an honorable mention for its Glimpse.
2012 Lighting for Tomorrow winners announced
The Leagues' communications and marketing department received a gold award for the 2010 AMC campaign and an honorable mention for its 1-2 Punch campaign.
California and Nevada leagues win award
MTNA was also represented by three students who received honorable mention awards, which carry a $250 cash award and considered the top 5 percent of all applicants nationwide.
MTNA student winners recognized by youngARTS
Rhodes also won second place for government beat reporting and an honorable mention for original column.
Illinois Times