top dollar
The maximum amount of money that an item, service, or worker is worth; a very high price.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“You have to pay top dollar for high quality furniture.”
“Because the hotel is located right in the city center, you should expect to pay top dollar for a room.”
“The collector was willing to pay top dollar for the rare manuscript, knowing that such a unique piece of history would likely never appear at auction again.”
- 01
a day late and a dollar short
Too late and too feeble to achieve the desired effect.
- 02
almighty dollar
The dollar, satirically characterized as a god.
- 03
bet one's bottom dollar
To be absolutely sure of something; to be certain enough of something to wager everything.
- 04
bottom dollar
The last of one's money; all of one's money.
- 05
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”).
- 06
grass tops
Of, related to, or involving local influential figures.
- 07
on top
In a dominant position.
- 08
over the top
Beyond normal, expected, or reasonable limits; outrageous.
Last updated August 10, 2026