idiom · neutral

be on top of (something)

UK/bi ɒn tɒp əv ˈsʌmθɪŋ/US/bi ɒn tɑːp əv ˈsʌmθɪŋ/be·on·TOP·of·some·THING

speakingtask2

to be in control of a situation or to know what is happening

Examples

“She is on top of her workload and never misses a deadline.”

“If you're on top of your assignments, exams are less stressful.”

“I try to be on top of emails so nothing important is missed.”

Band 8 sentence

“She remained on top of the project's many moving parts, ensuring deadlines were met without drama.”

Collocations

  • be on top of the workload
  • keep on top of emails

Common mistakes

be on top→be on top of

be on the top of→be on top of

Say it for a higher band

5manage→6keep on top of→7+be on top of (something)

Synonyms

keep on top of

Easily confused

keep on top of

“It's important to keep on top of your coursework throughout the semester.”

Related words

keep up withcatch up (on)know something inside outhit the booksburn the midnight oilput one's nose to the grindstonebe snowed under (with)cram for

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