OVER THE TOP Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

over the top

Surpassing a goal or quota, as in The new salesmen are excellent; they were over the top within the first six months . [Mid-1900s]
Extreme, outrageous, as in This comedian's style goes over the top . [ Slang ; late 1900s]
Over the parapet of a military trench, as in The lieutenant sent fresh troops over the top . This usage dates from World War I.

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Example Sentences

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Politicians and, yes, journalists both have a weakness for hyperbole, and so maybe all of this is a bit self serving and over the top?

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I was using it to protect myself and I got brave enough when the bird was about a foot away, and I threw it over the top of it, trapping it.

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Everything about the decor is over the top — massive marble pillars, ornate ceilings and statues that make the space feel truly grand.

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In that context, politicians played with people’s emotions on issues of race and gender to put the attack on public schools over the top.

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“That last time out, we’re down one and we crossed everybody over the top to throw the ball to Kawhi at the free-throw line,” Shaw said.

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More About Over The Top

What does over the top mean?

The phrase over the top is most often used to describe something that is excessive or outrageous, as in The flashy supervillain planned crazy schemes that were over the top.

Less commonly, over the top can refer to surpassing a goal, as in The promising rookies were over the top, scoring more shots than anyone expected.

Over the top can also refer to soldiers going over a military trench or parapet, as in A new squad of reinforcements went over the top to help the front lines.

Example: The garish millionaire’s party was over the top with pop star performances, gold medals for everyone, and a huge fireworks display.

Where does over the top come from?

The first records of over the top as a figurative phrase come from around 1935. The first records of the military usage come from around 1915 and refer literally to going over the tops of trenches that were common during World War I.

Today, the phrase over the top almost always refers to things that are considered excessive or outrageous. You are likely to see this phrase used quite a lot on social media and the internet, where sharing outrageous or extraordinary content is important for getting attention. In particular, over the top is used to describe people or things that are especially funny, flashy, or bizarre.

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How is over the top used in real life?

Over the top is often used to describe people, things, or behavior that is unbelievable or excessive.

Test audiences for George Clooney's historical drama 'Good Night, and Good Luck' complained that the actor playing Senator McCarthy was too over the top. They did not realise that section of the film was real archive footage and they were watching the actual Senator McCarthy.

— Quite Interesting (@qikipedia)

I liked Star Wars but the product placement was over the top. The Samsung Galaxy Lightsaber? And I don't remember the Falcon being a BMW.

— Hank Green (@hankgreen)

In its third season, Star Trek discovery finally feels like Star Trek. It’s not the same but it is Star Trek for sure, a little over the top, a little swanky but yes it is.

— Sahil Mohan Gupta (@DigitallyBones)

Try using over the top!

Is over the top used correctly in the following sentence?

Tim’s wife told him to make a small lunch, but he went over the top and made a four-course meal.

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