Advertisement
Advertisement
over the top
Surpassing a goal or quota, as in The new salesmen are excellent; they were over the top within the first six months . [Mid-1900s]
Extreme, outrageous, as in This comedian's style goes over the top . [ Slang ; late 1900s]
Over the parapet of a military trench, as in The lieutenant sent fresh troops over the top . This usage dates from World War I.
Example Sentences
"It sounds a bit weird saying it, a bit over the top to say, but I do think cricket saved him. It gave him a reason for being, again."
"I don't feel that I can just go out and be free to do what I do. For the first week I was disguising myself and some people think that's over the top, but that's genuinely the impact it had on me."
I don’t know if it’s still like play one on one with with Zu down there and if he beats you over the top out of the post you live with it.
It was bold and audacious and over the top, in all the best ways, with celebratory, nine-minute performance of Bad Romance to cap it all off.
Plumped golden raisins, toasted coconut, and a few chopped nuts go over the top, where they can shine without interrupting the crumb.
Advertisement
Related Words
More About Over The Top
does over the top mean?
The phrase over the top is most often used to describe something that is excessive or outrageous, as in The flashy supervillain planned crazy schemes that were over the top.
Less commonly, over the top can refer to surpassing a goal, as in The promising rookies were over the top, scoring more shots than anyone expected.
Over the top can also refer to soldiers going over a military trench or parapet, as in A new squad of reinforcements went over the top to help the front lines.
Example: The garish millionaire’s party was over the top with pop star performances, gold medals for everyone, and a huge fireworks display.
Where does over the top come from?
The first records of over the top as a figurative phrase come from around 1935. The first records of the military usage come from around 1915 and refer literally to going over the tops of trenches that were common during World War I.
Today, the phrase over the top almost always refers to things that are considered excessive or outrageous. You are likely to see this phrase used quite a lot on social media and the internet, where sharing outrageous or extraordinary content is important for getting attention. In particular, over the top is used to describe people or things that are especially funny, flashy, or bizarre.
Did you know … ?
are some synonyms for over the top?
are some words that share a root or word element with over the top?
are some words that often get used in discussing over the top?
are some words over the top may be commonly confused with?
How is over the top used in real life?
Over the top is often used to describe people, things, or behavior that is unbelievable or excessive.
Test audiences for George Clooney's historical drama 'Good Night, and Good Luck' complained that the actor playing Senator McCarthy was too over the top. They did not realise that section of the film was real archive footage and they were watching the actual Senator McCarthy.
— Quite Interesting (@qikipedia)
I liked Star Wars but the product placement was over the top. The Samsung Galaxy Lightsaber? And I don't remember the Falcon being a BMW.
— Hank Green (@hankgreen)
In its third season, Star Trek discovery finally feels like Star Trek. It’s not the same but it is Star Trek for sure, a little over the top, a little swanky but yes it is.
— Sahil Mohan Gupta (@DigitallyBones)
Try using over the top!
Is over the top used correctly in the following sentence?
Tim’s wife told him to make a small lunch, but he went over the top and made a four-course meal.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse