English idiom · neutral · spoken & written · BrE & AmE

come out on top: meaning and examples

come out on top means be successful after a competition or difficulty.

Memory hook: Build a clear mental picture from “come out on top” and connect it to this meaning: be successful after a competition or difficulty.

How to use “come out on top”

Common mistake: Treat “come out on top” as a fixed expression. Notice its exact word order in the examples.

Learn it in context

This expression belongs to Lesson 8, where you can compare it with other idioms about success and practise it interactively.

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