ENGLISH
REFERENCE

top it off

idiom
Meaning

To emphasize or underscore; to make something even better or worse.


Examples
SIMPLE

We had a great dinner and then topped it off with dessert.

CONTEXTUAL

The flight was already delayed for hours, and to top it off, the airline lost my luggage.

COMPLEX

The team endured a grueling season, and to top it off, they suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the final championship match.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 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”).

  2. 02

    grass tops

    Of, related to, or involving local influential figures.

  3. 03

    on top

    In a dominant position.

  4. 04

    over the top

    Beyond normal, expected, or reasonable limits; outrageous.

  5. 05

    put the bottom rail on top

    To reverse a hierarchy.

  6. 06

    top banana

    The boss, the leader.

  7. 07

    top cat

    Synonym of top dog.

  8. 08

    top dog

    The boss, the leader (of the pack).

Last updated April 17, 2026