Quite a few people applied for the job, but his past work experience put him at the top of the heap. [=made him the strongest candidate of the group]
People at the bottom of the heap [=poor people] will not be helped much by the new tax cuts.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
(the) bottom of the heap — the lowest rank within a group. Being near the bottom of the heap, the company has nowhere to go but up. Those at the bottom of the heap feel that no one cares about them. Opposite of: the top of the heap … New idioms dictionary
(the) top of the heap — the highest rank within a group. How does Stephen plan to keep the company at the top of the heap? Usage notes: often used in the form at the top of the heap, as in the example Opposite of: the bottom of the heap … New idioms dictionary
at the top of the heap — at the top/bottom/of the heap phrase in the highest or lowest position in a society or organization The project is designed to help people at the bottom of the economic heap. Thesaurus: relationships and membership of social groupssynonym… … Useful english dictionary
at the bottom of the heap — at the top/bottom/of the heap phrase in the highest or lowest position in a society or organization The project is designed to help people at the bottom of the economic heap. Thesaurus: relationships and membership of social groupssynonym… … Useful english dictionary
top — [[t]tɒ̱p[/t]] ♦ tops, topping, topped 1) N COUNT: usu the N in sing, oft N of n The top of something is its highest point or part. I waited at the top of the stairs. ...the picture at the top of the page... Bake the biscuits for 20 25 minutes,… … English dictionary
heap — [[t]hi͟ːp[/t]] heaps, heaping, heaped 1) N COUNT: oft N of n A heap of things is a pile of them, especially a pile arranged in a rather untidy way. ...a heap of bricks. ...a compost heap... He has dug up the tiles that cover the floor and left… … English dictionary
heap — heap1 [hi:p] n [: Old English;] 1.) a large untidy pile of things ▪ a rubbish heap heap of ▪ There was a heap of stones where the building used to be. in a heap ▪ The envelopes for posting lay in a heap on her desk. ▪ We piled the branches into… … Dictionary of contemporary English
heap — heap1 [ hip ] noun count * 1. ) a large pile of something, especially a messy pile: a rubbish heap heap of: The bomb had reduced the building to a heap of rubble. be in a heap: His clothes were in a crumpled heap on the floor. in heaps: The… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
bottom — bot|tom1 W3S1 [ˈbɔtəm US ˈba: ] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(lowest part)¦ 2¦(lowest side)¦ 3¦(lowest inner part)¦ 4¦(lowest social position/rank)¦ 5¦(ocean/river)¦ 6¦(body)¦ 7¦(clothes)¦ 8¦(furthest part)¦ 9 get to the bottom of something … Dictionary of contemporary English
heap — I UK [hiːp] / US [hɪp] noun [countable] Word forms heap : singular heap plural heaps * 1) a large pile of something, especially an untidy pile a rubbish heap heap of: The bomb had reduced the building to a heap of rubble. be in a heap: His… … English dictionary
