- Home
- Idioms
- top off
top off
top something off
to add to the difficulty of something. Jane lost her job, and to top that off, she caught the flu. I had a bad day, and to top it off, I have to go to a meeting tonight.
top something off
(with something) 1. to end or terminate something with something; to put something on the top of something. They topped the building off with a tall flagpole. He topped off each piece of pie with a heap of whipped cream.
2. to celebrate an end to something with something. They topped the evening off with a bottle of champagne. They topped off the evening with a bottle of champagne.
top off something
also top something off1. to add enough liquid to make a container full Rhodes refilled his glass and topped off Carey's. We have enough gas to get there, but we ought to top it off so we won't have to stop again tomorrow.
2. to make something complete and satisfying An incredible cherry pie topped off the meal.
top off
1. Fill a container, especially when it is almost full to begin with. For example, I don't need much gas; just top off the tank, please. [First half of 1900s]
2. Finish, especially in a spectacular way, as in They topped off their trip with a visit to the White House. [First half of 1800s]
top off
v.1. To fill some container completely, especially when it is almost full to begin with: Before we returned the rental car, we topped off the gas tank. Every time I took a sip of my water, the server would come back and top it off.
2. To finish something appropriately: The couple topped off the romantic evening with a walk along the river.