to cap it all off
- phrasal verb
- Informal
:
culminar
- She graduated at the top of her class, and to cap it all off, she received a scholarship for further study.
And to cap it all off, because that's not enough, they're sadistic, which means they take positive delight in the suffering of others.
- And to cap it all off, because that's not enough, they're sadistic, which means they take positive delight in the suffering of others.
Examples
-
After a long journey, they hosted a big dinner party to cap it all off.
-
So that's an interesting thing to, to, you know, cap it all off, I'd say.
-
Throw a huge party at the end of the summer to cap it all off.
-
We capped it all off with a massive blow out.
-
The festival featured amazing performances, and to cap it all off, there was a spectacular fireworks display.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To stop something or make it finish
∞
1.0
To bring something to an end or complete it
226
3.0
Finish an activity or task
190
2.0
To complete an activity or task
92
3.2
To finish something by adding a final detail or touch
56
6.3
Reach the most important final point of an activity or event
31
6.1
Reach a final high point that ends with a specific result
31
2.5
To complete the last part of a task
30
3.9
Add a final thing to make something feel complete
12
6.0
End something in a memorable and exciting way
11
4.0
To complete something by adding the final touches
10
4.8
To reach the most intense point in a process or event
7
3.7
Finish something with a special final action like a show or speech
1
3.6
To add small final touches to make something complete
Antonyms
How Impressive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The verb 'cap' (to top) combined with the particle 'off' (which often marks completion) makes it plausible for a learner to infer a basic sense of 'finish' or 'top something.' However, the specific pragmatic nuance of finishing in a notable or impressive way (as in 'cap it all off with a spectacular fireworks display') is somewhat metaphorical and relies on idiomatic usage, so the full meaning may not be fully predictable to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Cap it all off comes from the image of a cap or lid put on top to finish something, like placing the lid on a jar or the last piece on a stack. So, to cap it all off means to add the final touch that 'finishes' an event or makes it feel complete and impressive.