Idiom
Over the top
Something over the top is excessive or exaggerated, going far beyond what is normal, sensible or needed.
How people use it
People use it for reactions, decorations, performances, outfits and spending: "A limo for a third-grade party seems a bit over the top." It is usually a mild criticism, though fans of bold style sometimes use it as praise. Before a noun it takes hyphens: an over-the-top wedding. In British English, it is often shortened to "OTT." There is also an older, literal military meaning, "go over the top," to climb out of a trench and attack, which you may meet in history books.
Also said: over-the-top, OTT.
Examples
- The fireworks for a small backyard birthday felt a little over the top.
- Critics said the actor's performance was over the top, but the audience loved it.
- Ana thought renting a castle for the family reunion was completely over the top.
Where it comes from
The phrase comes from World War I. Soldiers who climbed over the top of the trench wall to attack were said to "go over the top." The later meaning, going beyond normal limits, probably grew from that picture of leaving safe ground behind. By the 1980s, "over the top" in the sense of excessive or too much was common, especially in Britain.
Check yourself
1. If someone calls your party decorations over the top, what do they mean?
Answer: They are too much. Over the top means excessive, more than is needed or sensible.
2. Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Answer: Hiring a marching band to announce his promotion was a bit over the top.. The idiom describes something exaggerated, so it does not fit a quiet, simple dinner.
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