On top of means on the upper surface of something; figuratively, it means in addition to. In the literal meaning, one thing is resting on another: The suitcases are on top of the wardrobe. In the figurative meaning, it adds one more task or problem to those already mentioned: On top of that, it started to rain.
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on top of + noun (= on the upper surface); on top of + noun/-ing (= in addition to); on top of that, + clause
- I left my phone on top of the fridge and spent ten minutes looking for it.
- On top of her full-time job, she volunteers at an animal shelter at weekends.
- The hotel was expensive, and on top of that, breakfast wasn't included.
What changed
First versionOn top of work full-time, she takes evening classes in accounting.
RevisionOn top of working full-time, she takes evening classes in accounting.
It is easy to use the plain form of the verb here. But a verb after of always takes the -ing form: on top of working full-time. In the correction, work became working.
Don't confuse it with at the top of, which means “in the upper part”: Write your name at the top of the page. On top of the page would mean that something is lying on the sheet. First place in a list or ranking is also at the top: at the top of the list.
Your turn
The flight was five hours late, and ___ that, the airline lost my suitcase.
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on top of — The lost suitcase is one more problem in addition to the delay, so on top of that. At the top of means “in the upper part” and does not fit the meaning here.
Describe a bad day when one problem followed another. Name two problems and link them with on top of that.
My train was cancelled this morning, and on top of that, I left my laptop charger at home.
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