English

Noun

top dollar ‎(plural top dollars)

1. (chiefly US, idiomatic) The maximum amount of money that an item, service, or worker is worth; a very high price.
   • 1947, "Aces Up," Time, 8 Sep.,

     Within six months, Goodie was back in radio, earning just about the top dollar for a writer ($3,000 weekly) as Danny Kaye's chief scripter.

   • 2006, "Many ways to say cheese," Toronto Star, 6 Dec., p. F2,

     Consumers are willing to pay top dollar for distinctive, rare, traditional cheeses.