at the top of the tree

at the top of the tree

In the highest position or level in an organization, field, etc. Primarily heard in UK. Don't expect to be at the top of the tree right out of college. It takes time to work your way up.
See also: of, top, tree
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

at the top of the tree

BRITISH
COMMON If someone is at the top of the tree, they are in the highest position in an organization or in their profession. She has been at the top of the acting tree for 35 years. Note: You can also say that someone is top of the tree. As a cricketer he is top of the tree and we will see that when the time comes if he is picked for India.
See also: of, top, tree
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • reassign
  • reassign to
  • reassign to (something)
  • (one's) true colours
  • (Someone or something) called, they want their (something) back!
  • tomorrow
  • a bad apple spoils the (whole) barrel
  • a rotten apple spoils the (whole) barrel
  • a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bunch
  • one rotten apple spoils the (whole) barrel
References in classic literature
It happened one evening, when he was hot and tired with walking, and had sat down under a tree in a forest to eat his supper, that he saw two gaily-plumaged birds, that were strange to him, sitting at the top of the tree talking to one another about him.
At the top of the tree is the PS36,455 EX with all-wheel drive and CVT automatic transmission.
It seems to me another problem, typical of many public bodies, is that those at the top of the tree are more concerned about jostling to be top dog and protecting their big salaries, bonuses and pensions than serving the public.
"They were at the top of the tree. They always left me in stitches and gasps of admiration."
Back in the 1980s when the two clubs were at the top of the tree, battling it out for the honours it was down to Howard so I think there will be a lot of respect.
There are some limbs without leaves at the top of the tree, but they are not breaking.
But the difference between rugby and football is that rather than the kind of astronomical remuneration you get across the board at Premier League and even Championship clubs, most salary structures at the Welsh rugby regions take the form of a triangle - a small minority of big earners sit at the top of the tree with the largest slice of the PS3.5m cake, with more and more stacking up behind them the lower down the food chain you travel.
Williams said: "The half-time whistle has been blown and Kealy is sitting pretty at the top of the tree. Messrs Segal and Chamberlin are in sore need of a result if they're not to be left behind."
I walked out and saw she had climbed to an impossible spot at the top of the tree, her tiny head intent and popping above the canopy.
Shay Given was at the top of the tree for Newcastle for many years.
I want to play at the top of the tree, as they say.
Woods' 281-week reign at the top of the tree will be brought to an end by either Lee Westwood or Martin Kaymer, with the latter needing a miraculous final round at the Andalucia Masters today to take his place at golf's summit ahead of his Ryder Cup team-mate.
A crew from Birtley Fire Station, in Gateshead, attended and found the hawk at the top of the tree refusing to come down.
Argos remained at the top of the tree for the second year in a row with a 6.3% share of the UK market, after building additional stores and improving its online and catalogue business over the past year.
EVEN if you aren't a fan of the bold Blair, he is - from a professional politician's point of view - at the top of the tree.