Traditional
Still common
Definition
Excellent, first-rate.
Example Sentence
"Thanks for the lift, you're an absolute tops."
Where "Tops" Comes From
"Tops" comes from the straightforward idea of being at the top of the pile - the best of the bunch.
It's an older bit of slang, common through much of the 20th century, that's stuck around in everyday Australian speech.
How Aussies Actually Use It
It's most often used to describe a person's character - "he's a tops bloke" - though it can describe things too.
It has a warm, old-school feel, often used by parents and grandparents as high praise.
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