top of the morning
A generic, cheerful greeting said to someone in the morning.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He smiled and said, top of the morning to you.”
“I always give my coworkers a friendly top of the morning.”
“She shouts a loud top of the morning to her sleeping roommates.”
“My neighbor always shouts top of the morning to me as he walks his dog.”
“The bus driver gave me a cheerful top of the morning while I searched for my ticket.”
“You should offer a polite top of the morning when you meet the hiking group at dawn.”
“The store manager opens the doors at six and gives a bright top of the morning to the customers waiting in line for the sale.”
“The innkeeper greeted his guests with a hearty top of the morning before serving their breakfast.”
first recorded 20th c. disputed origin
The phrase was once a working-class greeting used throughout the British Isles, possibly in reference to the cream that rises to the top of the morning milk. Its modern association with Irishmen is largely a result of the 1959 film Darby O'Gill and the Little People, which revived the expression for a mid-century audience. While the story of the milk cream is popular, the precise origin remains unproven.
- 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
forget to take one's medication this morning
To be annoyed or irritable, or to behave in an ill-mannered way, particularly in the morning.
- 03
grass tops
Of, related to, or involving local influential figures.
- 04
morning person
A person who wakes up, without difficulty, early each morning and is alert and active during the first part of the day.
- 05
on top
In a dominant position.
- 06
over the top
Beyond normal, expected, or reasonable limits; outrageous.
- 07
put the bottom rail on top
To reverse a hierarchy.
- 08
son of the morning
A traveler.
Last updated August 10, 2026