top dollar

noun

, Informal.

1. the maximum amount being or likely to be paid:

   to pay top dollar for the jewelry.

top dollar

noun

1. informal.
   the highest level of payment

Idioms and Phrases

The highest price, as in They'll have to pay top dollar at that resort . [Second half of 1900s]

Example Sentences

The two sides failed to reach an extension, and the Pacers didn’t seem inclined to pay top dollar to retain him in free agency after two injury-plagued seasons.

From Washington Post

Over the past several years, utility giant Georgia Power has embarked on an unusual buying spree, paying top dollar for people’s property in places where cheap land was easy to find.

From ProPublica

Lower than usual inventory and favorable mortgage rates have meant that in many markets across the country, sellers are receiving top dollar for their homes.

From Washington Blade

Even in a seller’s market if you want top dollar for your home, you may have to invest in improvements.

From Washington Blade

In fact, paying top dollar for a netminder may not help at all.

From FiveThirtyEight

So people are essentially paying top dollar to look, like you said, “alternative.”

From The Daily Beast

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, revelers were shelling out top dollar for their costumes that year, too.

From The Daily Beast

Whether a world leader can command top dollar also depends on the global economy.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• amount
• charge
• damage
• expenditure
• figure
• outlay
• payment
• price
• price tag
• rate
• tariff
• value
• worth