top the bill

top the bill

To be the featured person in an event. Two professors from New York University are topping the bill at the conference on climate change this weekend. Up until now he's only been a supporting act, but he's going to top the bill for the first time next Saturday.
See also: bill, top
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

top (or head) the bill

be the main performer or act in a show, play, etc.
See also: bill, top
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

head/top the ˈbill

be the most important item or performer in a show, play, etc: Topping the bill tonight will be Robbie Williams.
See also: bill, head, top
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • head the bill
  • head/top the bill
  • after you, my dear Alphonse
  • a straw in the wind
  • straw in the wind
  • gala affair
  • happy event
  • a/the happy event
  • the happy event
  • in the event of (something)
References in periodicals archive
A Beastly Adventure: animals top the bill. at Smithfield THIS Sunday (25 August) from 11am, Culture Mile presents Street Party: A Beastly Adventure, a FREE family event at Smithfield Market where animals top the bill.
Swnami, previous Battle of the Bands winners, top the bill on Friday and Yws Gwynedd brings things to a close on Saturday.
However, the most unusual to top the bill that year was Henry Cotton - the famous golfer!
LIZ PHILLIPS PHOTOGRAPHY LIVERPOOL Calling is taking place next Saturday, July 26, at various venues across the city centre, including the Bombed Out Church - where local indie legends Space top the bill.
"I could probably have got Craig on the Leeds show but this is his opportunity to top the bill in his home town and I'm not going to deprive him of that," Rowe told me.
I'll defer to better judges than me whether to expect a classic but the girls are merely keeping the court warm for Murray and Djokovic who will top the bill tomorrow in what promises to be a classic.
The Schools Out singer will top the bill on the first day of Pegg's Cropredy festival in Oxfordshire - Cooper's only UK show so far scheduled this year.
Engelbert Humperdinck's management watched him rehearsing for a gig where the legendary crooner was due to top the bill and asked Bill to take his money and run because he was "too much competition".
Crissy's looking for anyone from dance groups to magicians to top the bill with her, alongside guest star Pete Price from Radio City.
The band top the bill at the event, which runs from May 4-6.
James Flinn, the British Masters welterweight champion, and unbeaten Troy James top the bill on Allen jnr's next dinner show.
Horn, who has over 140 fights under his belt including 12 in the UFC, will top the bill against rising local boy McKibben - who insists he won't let tha American have it all his own way.
Muse will top the bill on the main Pyramid Stage on 26 June.
Stars to top the bill at 'best rugby party' THE last one may have seen the likes of Bryn Terfel and Cerys Matthews topping the bill, but the next CeltFest looks set to top even that in the home-grown talent stakes.
AMY MACDONALD and Sandi Thom top the bill with support from Keith Jack.