top dog

noun

: a person, group, or thing in a position of authority especially through victory in a hard-fought competition

Examples of top dog in a Sentence

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For some teams, a dark-horse mind-set might be better for strategic reasons: underdogs tend to focus on the positive outcome (winning), while top dogs tend to avoid negative outcomes (not losing), which could explain why underdogs sometimes play looser and with an eye to higher risks and rewards. —

Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2025 While smash burgers remain, ironically, top dog within the fast food universe, one unsung iteration, the Oklahoma smash burger, is finally getting its due. —

Brock Keeling, Orange County Register, 17 Jan. 2025 Of course, the Chiefs won’t be playing, but the six teams that hope to unseat KC as the AFC’s (and NFL’s) top dog will be in action. —

Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Jan. 2025 Trump, of course, can’t abide being anything other than the top dog. —

David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for top dog