# Why do "top dollar" and "bottom dollar" mean the same thing?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-top-dollar-and-bottom-dollar-mean-the-same-thing/191771>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [July 29, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-top-dollar-and-bottom-dollar-mean-the-same-thing/191771 "2003-07-29T23:31:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![knock\_knock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@knock\_knock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knock_knock)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-top-dollar-and-bottom-dollar-mean-the-same-thing/191771/1 "2003-07-29T23:31:29Z")

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Q: How much did that security system cost?  
A: We paid top dollar for it.

Q: Will it be sunny tomorrow?  
A: You can bet your bottom dollar.

In the above two examples, and in general, “top dollar” and “bottom dollar” mean the same thing: lots of money. Why? Is there any similar phrase that is used to mean the opposite (not much money)?

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-top-dollar-and-bottom-dollar-mean-the-same-thing/191771/2 "2003-07-29T23:36:26Z")

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No, they don’t. “Top dollar” means the highest price, or most expensive". “Bottom dollar” means your last dollar; betting your bottom dollar means you’re betting on such a sure thing that you’re willing to risk your last dollar on it.

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-top-dollar-and-bottom-dollar-mean-the-same-thing/191771/3 "2003-07-30T00:44:26Z")

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What **Q.E.D.** said.

(I always get to these late.)

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-top-dollar-and-bottom-dollar-mean-the-same-thing/191771/4 "2003-07-30T01:31:32Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> (I always get to these late.)

Ditto!  
“Bottom dollar” was used to mean your “last” one from the middle of the 1800’s.

“Top dollar” is only from the mid-20th Century as far as I can find.