top effort

USAGE SUMMARY

"top effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It usually serves as a way of praising, encouraging, or congratulating someone for an accomplishment. For example you could use "top effort" in the sentence "You did a great job on the project, top effort!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Praise

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

A real top effort by the players.

The Guardian - Sport

Still, five off the over is a top effort from Powell.

The Guardian

"He'd sleep in Peace Rules's stall if he believed it necessary to bring a top effort".

The New York Times - Sports

Solid enough, but McKay's 3/44 from 10 was the only really top effort.

The Guardian - Sport

Servis's primary concern before the Preakness was that it would be difficult for his horse to run another top effort just two weeks after the Kentucky Derby.

The New York Times - Sports

A top effort from Bishop too, and it was hard not to feel moved when he finally staggered into Trafalgar Square.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Standout efforts in football, girls' and boys' basketball, girls' volleyball, baseball and softball highlighted the school's top efforts.

Los Angeles Times

Without some hugely popular draw, like HBO has with "Game of Thrones," which pulls in subscribers to its over-the-top effort HBO NOW, consumers may not see the need to subscribe to these sorts of niche services in large numbers.

TechCrunch

At the same time, I would make pot de crème and pit it against my best stove-top efforts.

The New York Times

But a study of more than 75,000 people interacting with contact-center representatives or using self-service channels found that over-the-top efforts make little difference: All customers really want is a simple, quick solution to their problem.

Harvard Business Review

Nor were there perfect answers Friday about the status of the top kill effort.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "top effort" when you want to directly commend someone's dedication and hard work. It is suitable in contexts ranging from sports commentary to general workplace praise.

Common error

Avoid using "top effort" in highly formal or academic writing. While acceptable in many situations, it may be perceived as too informal for certain professional documents or scholarly articles. Consider "excellent work" or "outstanding performance" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "top effort" functions primarily as a noun phrase that expresses strong approval or commendation for someone's work or performance. Ludwig confirms the term's correctness and usability. It is frequently used to acknowledge and praise dedication and hard work.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sports

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "top effort" is a correct and usable English phrase used to express strong approval and commendation, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions as a noun phrase and conveys admiration for dedicated work. While its register leans towards neutral and informal, it's commonly found in news, media, and sports contexts. Remember to consider more formal alternatives like "excellent work" or "outstanding performance" in professional or academic settings. "Top effort" is a versatile expression for praising dedication and hard work across various scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excellent work

Focuses on the quality of the work done.

outstanding performance

Highlights the quality of someone's act or delivery.

remarkable job

Emphasizes the noteworthiness of the achievement.

commendable attempt

Highlights that the attempt, more than the result, is worthy of praise.

first-rate endeavor

Uses more formal language to describe the undertaking.

exemplary execution

Focuses on how well something was carried out.

stellar achievement

Highlights the great height of the result obtained.

terrific feat

Emphasizes the skill needed to achieve something.

superior accomplishment

Focuses on the high-quality outcome achieved.

exceptional display

Emphasizes the demonstrative nature of the positive action.

FAQs

How can I use "top effort" in a sentence?

You can use "top effort" to praise someone's hard work, like: "The team showed a "top effort" in securing the victory".

What does "top effort" mean?

It signifies a high degree of dedication and hard work put into a task, resulting in a commendable performance.

Which is more formal, ""top effort"" or "excellent work"?

"Excellent work" is generally more formal and suitable for professional or academic contexts, while ""top effort"" is more informal and conversational.

What are some alternatives to saying ""top effort""?

Alternatives include "excellent work", "outstanding performance", or "remarkable job", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.