blow (one's) top
To become very angry, often quickly. Oh man, Dad is going to blow his top when he sees that I wrecked his car! The boss is definitely going to blow his top when he hears we lost that big client. Mom totally blew her top when I told her I had failed math.
carrot-top
A person with red (orange) hair. I bet my future child will be a carrot-top. Red hair runs in my family. I was actually a bit of a carrot-top when I was young, but my hair turned more auburn as I grew older. Look at that little carrot-top with the curly hair! My goodness, is there anything cuter than a red-haired little girl?
grasstops
The leaders of a group or community (in contrast to the "grassroots"—the common people). A: "If we really want to enact change in our neighborhood, we need to get the support of the grasstops." B: "Well then, let's go present our proposal at tonight's town meeting." The grasstops have totally ignored our petition—now what should we do? I agree, you guys have a great idea for sprucing up the park, but it'll go nowhere if you can't get the grasstops' approval.
mop-top
A hairstyle in which the hair typically extends to the eyebrows in the front and, often, to the collar in the back. The mop-top is probably most commonly associated with the early Beatles. Wow Dad, you had quite a mop-top when you were younger!
muffin top
Excess stomach fat that is visible over the waistband of one's pants or skirt, so named because it resembles the top of a muffin coming out of the cup it was baked in. I've started going to the gym because I'm sick of being the only one on the beach with a muffin top at our family vacations.
pop some tops
To open and drink from bottles of beer or other alcohol, especially in social scenario. We sat out on our back deck, popping some tops while we watched the sun set over the horizon. A whole bunch of my friends are planning on getting together to pop some tops and cook up some barbecue.
pop tops
To open and drink from bottles of beer or other alcohol. We sat out on our back deck, popping tops while we watched the sun set over the horizon. I could hear my father and uncles popping tops and chatting around the kitchen table until the early hours of the morning.
ragtop
slang A car with a roof made of cloth or a similarly flexible material that can be brought down to expose the driver and passengers to the air; a convertible. My grandfather had an amazing old ragtop when we were kids, and he'd always take us for drives around the country in it with the top down whenever the sun was shining.
sleep like a top
To experience a very deep and restful sleep; to sleep soundly. I can't believe you finished a triathlon! You're going to sleep like a top tonight. I have to set numerous alarms for the morning because I sleep like a top every night!
top
1. verb To best or outshine someone in some pursuit. I don't think I can top Brian—I just can't run that fast. That story was crazy—how can I top it?
2. verb, slang To kill someone. Ray topped the informant, just as the boss told him to.
3. noun A usually circular toy with a top handle and a bottom point, on which it is balanced and then spun (to see how long it can stay spinning). Back in my day, we got toys like tops and yo-yos—none of these fancy dolls and video games!
4. noun A shirt. Can you answer the door? Someone's knocking and I haven't got a top on! No, I think I liked that purple top on you better.
5. noun In baseball and softball, the first half of an inning. It's the top of the ninth, and the Angels are winning 7–6.
6. noun In sexual activity between two men, the person who penetrates (and who is often viewed as dominant). If you're both tops, then what are you going to do in the bedroom?
top (oneself)
1. To commit suicide. Primarily heard in UK. A: "Did you hear that his father topped himself over the weekend?" B: "Yeah, I can't believe it. Everyone is still in shock."
2. To outdo or outperform one's previous effort(s) or achievement(s). Primarily heard in US. Wow, you've really topped yourself with these cupcakes, Stephen!
top (something) with (something)
To cover, garnish, or adorn the top of something with something else. The chef topped the steak with sautéed mushrooms. I wanted to top the house with red slate tiles.
top off
1. To add to something until it is full, especially if it was already close to being full. A noun or pronoun can be used between "top" and "off." I'd like to top the car off with gas before we set out on the road tomorrow. Here, let me top off your glass with a bit more wine.
2. To finish or complete something by adding a final element or flourish to it. A noun or pronoun can be used between "top" and "off." The party was great! There was dinner, games, and dancing, and they topped the evening off with a karaoke competition. The cake is almost finished, let me just top it off with a few chocolate strawberries. We topped off our vacation in Greece with a trip to the Acropolis of Athens.
3. To add something unpleasant or difficult to an already troublesome situation. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "top" and "off." I got a flat tire halfway through my bicycle ride, and to top that off, I had left my phone at home so I couldn't call anyone for help! The boss tore me a new one today, and to top it all off, my boyfriend said he was moving out.
top out
1. To complete the topmost portion or story of a building that is under construction. A noun or pronoun can be used between "top" and "out." The construction company announced that they would be topping out the new courthouse this weekend. They said they would top the hotel out months ago, but it's still sitting there unfinished.
2. To fill some vessel, especially a cargo ship, to its limit. A noun or pronoun can be used between "top" and "out." The pirates topped their ship out with gold and jewels they had plundered. The furniture topped out the moving truck all on its own, so I don't know how we'll get all our boxes of stuff to the new house.
3. To reach an upper limit; to stop going any higher. Their market value topped out at $134 per share.
4. To cause something to cease going higher. A noun or pronoun can be used between "top" and "out." The federal reserve announced that it would be topping interest rates out at 8%. At the request of their boss, I topped out the company's bar tab at $500.
5. To retire from one's work, especially at the peak of one's success. Morgan decided to top out after selling her startup for nearly $12 million. I could see that the market bubble was set to burst anytime, so I topped out while the getting was good.
top the bill
To be the featured person in an event. Two professors from New York University are topping the bill at the conference on climate change this weekend. Up until now he's only been a supporting act, but he's going to top the bill for the first time next Saturday.
top up
1. To fill some container or vessel with more of something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "top" and "up." Often used without directly stating the thing being filled, with the person or thing it belongs to being mentioned instead. Oh, you're glass is nearly empty, Tom. Let me top you up. Would you bring this bottle of wine to the table and top up everyone's glass, please? Make sure you top the car up with gas before you set out.
2. To add more money to some account. With our pay-as-you-go cell phone plans, you can top up over the phone or at various stores around the country. Don't forget to top up your account regularly, as payments are taken from it automatically.
3. To supplement one's income. A noun or pronoun can be used between "top" and "up." I do a bit of freelance work in the evenings to top up what I earn each month. You'll be on a lower starting wage, but you can top it up with commissions.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.