king of the hill
Undisputed playground champion
King of the hill is a children's game where players compete to occupy the top of a mound or elevated spot while others try to displace them.
By extension, it describes any situation where someone holds a dominant position that others are trying to take: In the smartphone market, Apple has been king of the hill for years.
The phrase emphasizes both supremacy and vulnerability—the position invites challenge.
Highest rank or power
- alphaFirst Greek letter
- top dogDominant leader
- reignSovereign's time in power
- controlAuthority to direct
territory · defending · challenger · overthrow · dethrone · champion · undefeated · pecking order
Utmost height attained
- topUppermost part or surface
- pinnacleUtmost summit or spire
- apexUppermost point or culmination
- hilltopApex of a knoll
elevation · climb · ascend · heights · high ground · vantage point · mountaintop · crest
Children's outdoor recreation space
dirt pile · scramble · children · recess · roughhousing · competition · elimination · defend
supremacy
Highest rank or power
control · territory · defending · challenger · overthrow · dethrone · champion · undefeated · pecking order · ruler
peak
Utmost height attained
hilltop · elevation · climb · ascend · heights · high ground · vantage point · mountaintop · crest · perch
playground
Children's outdoor recreation space
mound · dirt pile · scramble · children · recess · roughhousing · competition · elimination · defend · attackers
- playground gamestag, hide and seek, hopscotch, freeze, capture the flag
- game modeseasy mode, ranked match, deathmatch, hard mode, practice match
- questsquest, seeking, main quest, searching, side quest
- rankingsrankings, first, college rankings, second, third
- recess gamestag, hopscotch, jump rope, hide and seek, duck duck goose
- schoolyardplayground, slide, swings, monkey bars, sandbox
king of the hillunderdog
Presumed loser beforehand
bottom of the barrel · last place · loser · dead last · bottom dweller
king of the hillpeon
Indentured low-status worker
subordinate · underling · minion · lackey · servant
king of the hillupstart
Arrogant recent success
challenger · newcomer · contender · up-and-comer · dark horse
king, hill, kingdom, hills, hilly, kings, kingpin, kingly, kingship