| 释义 |
top line
[f. top n.1 + line n.2]
1. (In cattle), the profile line of the back from the centre of the shoulders to the end of the hip-bones.
2. The head item on a bill of entertainment; the headline of a newspaper; freq. (with hyphen) attrib.; also fig.
1906N.Y. Times 6 May iv. 2/1 The rumor of a new $30,000,000 vaudeville act—a regular ‘top-line’ combination—has been giving Broadway a good deal to talk about. 1922A. Haddon Green Room Gossip vi. 138 His..duets with Miss Muriel George have reached a top-line position on the halls. 1928Boston Even. Transcript 30 Mar. 15/6 This big ‘top line’ caught my eye: ‘The Pocasset filicide.’ 1928Daily Express 31 July 13/7 The top-line contest on Saturday next is that between Jack Stanley of Deptford and Gipsey Daniels. 1947[see care v. 4 a]. 1958New Statesman 23 Aug. 211/3 The Daily Mail has recently been the most persistent in putting news first in its public appeal and in tying its ‘top line’ features much more closely to it than most. 1981B. Healey Last Ferry from Lido i. 17 A real, top-line Venetian socialite.
3. on the top line: in the highest state of perfection, readiness, etc. slang (orig. Naval). Phr. to sweat on the top line: see sweat v. 9 c.
1916‘Taffrail’ Pincher Martin ix. 155 I've 'eard tell, too, that that there Kayser bloke o' theirs 'as gingered 'em up somethin' crool, an' a navy wot's been gingered up must be on th' top line same as us, mustn't it? 1942Tee Emm (Air Ministry) II. 81 There are a lot of ways of navigating these days; you ought to be on the top line in them all. 1958Punch 9 July 57/3 The famous scene in which he has to serve both his masters with dinner at the same moment becomes a juggling turn on the top line. 1972Times 30 Nov. 17/4 It cannot be but harmful to the patient to be attended by a doctor who through sheer exhaustion is not on the top line.
4. Mus. In music divided into four parts for singing, the highest (usu. soprano) line.
1965Listener 1 July 33/3 The top line could be sung by sopranos and altos in unison, while the baritones..could dodge from the bass line to the tenor line. 1968E. R. Buckler Ox Bells & Fireflies iv. 73 We sang—with the teacher always taking what was known as ‘top line’.
Hence top-ˈliner, one who or that which appears in the top line, or in the first or principal place.
1901Munsey's Mag. Nov. 247/1 Grand opera in this and other countries sadly needs a new bright particular star, a ‘top liner’, as they say in the music halls. 1901Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 1 Nov. 3/1 One of the four schooners which returned to port yesterday morning was the top-liner of the fleet, the Otto. 1928Daily Express 19 June 16/1 Every Ascot race is a top-liner. 1950Sport 7–11 Apr. 9/1 For months past people have been trying to grab tickets for this match, which is always a top-liner. 1970Daily Tel. 29 Apr. 13/1 On the club circuit there are top-liners..making up to {pstlg}400 a week. 1982R. Hill Who guards a Prince iv. vi. 227 A journalist..a top-liner as well as an old friend. |