But the proposal died even before it reached the top echelons of the department.

What makes you think the top echelons of society are not connected to the "real world" - whatever that is?

I had hoped a few more of the top echelons might have put in an appearance.

Her job is to infiltrate the top echelons of the drug culture and find out what happened.

Women were few in the top echelons of the business world.

The top echelons of science are overwhelmingly dominated by men.

Fix the test scores if you have to, but I want more blacks in the top echelons of your department.

He once helped his son, Aaron, reach the top echelon of tennis.

China has agreed to keep the top echelon of civil servants in their present jobs.

This view is not universally held at the top echelons of the Government.