[General] on top of vs. on the top of

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yamadew

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Joined
Sep 3, 2010
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English Teacher
Native Language
Japanese
Home Country
Japan
Current Location
Japan
Is there any difference in meaning between "on top of" and "on the top of"?Under what circumstance do we use "on the top of" and "on top of"?When I google both of the phrases, the number of "on the top of" more than doubles that of "on top of".
 
Thank you very much for the reply.
In fact, "on top of" is listed as an idiomatic phrase or something like that in the dictionaries I have , while "on the top of" cannot be found in them.
 
The expression "on top of that" means "in addition" or "also" and that one does not take "the."

He's kind, and sweet, and fun to be with.... and on top of that, he's wealthy!
 
I see that whether the definite article is put in or not does not affect the meaning, and on top of that, "on top of" have an idiomatic meaning which "on the top of" doesn't have.

Thanks a lot!
 
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