at the bottom/top of the heap

phrase

—used to describe a person's level of success, position in society, potential for advancement, etc.

Quite a few people applied for the job, but his past work experience put him at the top of the heap.

People at the bottom of the financial heap will not be helped much by the new tax cuts.

Examples of at the bottom/top of the heap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The New York Yankees retain their spot at the top of the heap, worth $9 billion, 13% more than last year. — Michael Ozanian, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026

One recent poll by IVC media put Bianco at the top of the heap by 5 points, with Hilton not far behind. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026

On that list of IP powerhouses, Nvidia is at the top of the heap. — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2026

And then of course there were the scientists, Irving Langmuir at the top of the heap. — Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026

Apple, despite its many challenges in AI over the past year, remains at the top of the heap. — Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 21 Jan. 2026

This year’s election cycle also promises to be another showdown of moneyed interests via dueling ballot measures, with those either increasing or decreasing taxes at the top of the heap. — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026

But the Sunday Slipper, with its super-soft faux fur and slip-on, slip-off capability, really puts it at the top of the heap in the realm of versatility. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2025