over the top
Beyond normal, expected, or reasonable limits; outrageous.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“His reaction to the small mistake was over the top.”
“The party decorations were a bit over the top, with glitter and lights everywhere.”
“The director's over the top performance distracted the audience from the subtle themes of the play.”
first recorded 20th c.
The adverbial form appears c. 1915 in reference to the infantry tactics of World War I, specifically the act of climbing out of a trench to begin an assault. The adjectival usage followed c. 1935.
- 01
cherry on top
Synonym of icing on the cake (“a thing which intensifies the appreciation of something already good, or (ironic) the regretting of something already bad”).
- 02
grass tops
Of, related to, or involving local influential figures.
- 03
on top
In a dominant position.
- 04
put the bottom rail on top
To reverse a hierarchy.
- 05
top banana
The boss, the leader.
- 06
top cat
Synonym of top dog.
- 07
top dog
The boss, the leader (of the pack).
- 08
top dollar
The maximum amount of money that an item, service, or worker is worth; a very high price.
Last updated August 10, 2026