Top our expectations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Top our expectations" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an attempt to convey that something exceeded expectations, but the wording is awkward and unclear. Example: "The performance of the team truly topped our expectations this quarter."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

LV= said on Monday that it was seeing motor claims inflation "at the top end of our expectations", and that this was driven by increases in automotive technology making repairs more expensive.

The Guardian - Money

"The upside relative to our expectations comes from both top line and margin".

The New York Times

However, in the Biological Process category, the overall performance of the top-scoring methods was below our expectations.

Nature

"This sits distinctly at the top of our rosy expectation".

The New York Times

It also said that April sales should top prior expectations.

The New York Times

These top five expectations were also the highest perceived achievements at the two later time points (Table 2).

BMC Medical Education

Department store chain Macy's also reported earnings, and weaker-than-expected sales failed to outweigh a tax settlement, allowing the company to top expectations.

Forbes

While that rate was hardly stellar, it did top expectations for an increase of 1.6 percent.

The New York Times

At the top, Mancuso's expectations were low.

The New York Times - Sports

[C9.] ImClone Profits Top Expectations Shares of ImClone Systems, the maker of the colon cancer treatment Erbitux, rose after the company beat analysts' expectations by a penny.

The New York Times

The filtration equipment maker Donaldson Company, said today that its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings should top expectations on strong demand for its gas turbine systems.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use standard phrases like "exceed our expectations" or "surpass our expectations" for clear and effective communication.

Common error

Avoid using "top" as a verb in this context. It's not a standard way to describe exceeding expectations. Instead, use verbs like "exceed", "surpass", or "outperform".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Top our expectations" is intended to function as a verb phrase, expressing the act of exceeding expectations. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, the phrasing is grammatically incorrect. Standard alternatives would be to use "exceed" or "surpass".

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "Top our expectations" is not grammatically correct in standard English. According to Ludwig AI, it's better to use alternatives like "exceed our expectations" or "surpass our expectations" for clear and effective communication. Given its incorrect usage, the phrase is absent from authoritative sources and is best avoided in formal or professional writing. Using standard phrases ensures your message is accurately conveyed and well-received.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Exceed our expectations

Uses a more standard verb "exceed" to convey surpassing expectations.

Surpass our expectations

Employs "surpass", another common verb indicating exceeding a certain level.

Outperform our expectations

Suggests a higher level of performance than anticipated.

Beyond our expectations

Indicates something went further than initially thought possible.

Better than we expected

A simpler, more direct way of saying something was better than anticipated.

Above our expectations

A more literal way of saying something was higher or better than expected.

Fulfill our expectations

Indicates that something completely satisfies expectations.

Meet our expectations

Indicates that something reaches the level that we expected.

Live up to our expectations

Implies that the subject's performance was in line with our expectations.

Top expectations

Omits "our" to create a more concise but still grammatically incorrect version.

FAQs

What does it mean to say something "topped expectations"?

To say something "topped expectations" means it performed or resulted in a better way than was predicted or hoped for.

What can I say instead of "top our expectations"?

You can use alternatives such as "exceed our expectations", "surpass our expectations", or "outperform our expectations".

Is it correct to say "top our expectations"?

No, the phrase "top our expectations" is not grammatically correct. A better phrasing would be to say something "exceeds our expectations" or "surpasses our expectations".

How do I use "exceed our expectations" in a sentence?

You can say, "The company's profits "exceeded our expectations" this quarter" or "The team's performance "exceeded our expectations"".