adjective

over the top

OH-vuh thuh TOP

Over the top (adjective) means Excessive to the point of being ridiculous — far more dramatic, elaborate or extreme than the situation calls for. Example: “A twelve-tier cake for a first birthday is a bit over the top.”

adjective

Excessive to the point of being ridiculous — far more dramatic, elaborate or extreme than the situation calls for.

"A twelve-tier cake for a first birthday is a bit over the top."

"His acting was over the top, but the audience loved it."

media industry Of television or media, delivered directly to viewers over the internet rather than through a cable, satellite or broadcast provider.

"Every studio now runs its own over-the-top streaming service."

phrase

historical Out of a trench and into an attack, in accounts of First World War fighting.

"The order came at dawn to go over the top."

How to Use Over the top

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWay too much.

When to use it

Informal in the 'excessive' sense; hyphenate before a noun. Technical and neutral in the media sense.

Memory tip

Over the moon means delighted — a completely different phrase.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

OTT → overblown → over the moon

Common pairings

a bit over the top way over the top over-the-top reaction OTT platform

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A twelve-tier cake for a first birthday is a bit _____.

Etymology

From the First World War phrase 'to go over the top', meaning to climb out of a trench parapet to attack; the sense of reckless excess developed from it.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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excessive overblown OTT extravagant unrestrained

Antonyms

understated restrained subtle measured

Related Words

considered forward slow obvious controlled extreme loud abandoned

Rhymes for over the top

treetop

See all rhymes for over the top →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between over the top and OTT?

OTT is simply the abbreviation, used in informal writing and in the media industry. In the streaming sense OTT is the standard professional term; in the 'excessive' sense the full phrase is more usual in speech.

What does OTT mean in streaming?

It means content delivered over the open internet, going 'over the top' of a traditional cable or satellite operator's network. Netflix, Disney+ and YouTube are all OTT services because the viewer needs only an internet connection, not a TV subscription.

Is calling something over the top an insult?

Usually mildly critical, but it can be affectionate — a party, an outfit or a performance described as over the top may still be enjoyed. Tone decides it.

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