over the top
originally World War I soldiers' slang for "start an attack," in reference to the top of the trenches (top (n.1) as "rim of a ditch" is attested from c. 1300). As "beyond reasonable limits, too far," over the top is attested by 1968.
originally World War I soldiers' slang for "start an attack," in reference to the top of the trenches (top (n.1) as "rim of a ditch" is attested from c. 1300). As "beyond reasonable limits, too far," over the top is attested by 1968.