Meaning of topspin | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A rotational motion, especially that given to a ball, in which the upper surface spins in the direction of motion.
   countable, uncountable
2. An edgy, quirky or otherwise engaging quality that holds the interest of the audience.
   uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“The tennis star was famed for her topspin.”

“Well remembered as a visual comedienne, she also had the verbal knack of putting all sorts of topspin on a line.”

“Flashdance had a quality known as top spin, in which the casting, the concept and the look and sound of the movie all come together.”

“2016, Quentin Letts, "A Very English Scandal: sex, lies and a murder plot at the heart of the establishment by John Preston - review" (in Evening Standard, 28 April 2016) https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/books/a-very-english-scandal-sex-lies-and-a-murder-plot-at-the-heart-of-the-establishment-by-john-preston-a3236271.html This fluent, readable book has certainly been polished with a fair degree of what Fleet Street feature editors once called topspin: “Give it some topspin, old boy. Make the copy sing.” In this John Preston more than succeeds.”

CEFR level