on top rungs vs hit a rocky road

Some examples from the web:

• She feels a constant need to re-establish herself on the top rung.
• Listen, monkey-boy... I'm on the top rung of the evolutionary ladder.
• And the other half got taken by Madoff, so nobody wants to go near a hedge fund unless they know for sure they're on the top rung.
• The plutocracy may be a meritocracy, but increasingly you have to be born on the top rung of the ladder to even take part in that race.
• We cracked the top rung, baby.
• We cracked the top rung, baby.
• But this top rung is missing.
• The top rung of the ladder has spoken.
• Feel the top rung of the ladder with your right foot.
• First, the entire top rung of competitors drops out sick.
• This one, however, has sighted the top rung of the sports car ladder, and it is climbing fast.
• No! I can come down whenever I want to. I just have to... dangle my body out over the edge and then reach blindly for that top rung of the ladder you're not supposed to use.
• WASHINGTON, DC - Let's say that you would like to become one of the richest people on the planet, someone with enormous wealth and access to the top rung of political power.
• "Yes, Top Gear have rung saying, can they borrow my most prized possessions?"
• Phanom Rung - Phimai is considered to be the most famous and easily accessible Khmer temple in northeastern Thailand but Prasat Hin Khao Phanom Rung located in Buriram are both better preserved and also located on top of an extinct volcano in an incredible environment.
• Lay the Front pieces on top "face" Down (our marking on top) on top of the larger body piece.
• You're greedy on top of it.
• Officer down on top of the Transcorp building.
• On top of pillars or columns.
• Clear solution with white microsphere layer on top.

Some examples from the web:

• Young love's hit a rocky road
• I have traveled many a rocky road, but none have been this delicious.
• Life is a rocky road, Motek.
• It is a rocky road and is fraught with difficulties - we Portuguese know that only too well.
• After a rocky road to ratification, it finally came into force on 1 December 2009.
• It is going to be a rocky road, but the sooner we get started the better for everyone.
• It's like that song that I wrote, Life Is a Rocky Road.
• I'm thinking more of a rocky road
• it's been a rocky road to the senate for eytorn general patrick darling.
• But that would have been a rocky road emotionally, wouldn't it?
• Rocky Road's in the freezer.
• But... you told me rocky road was your favorite.
• It was a long and rocky road which only had a happy ending in the conciliation procedure.
• Rocky Road for the little man.
• I stocked the freezer with Rocky Road.
• I know who likes Rocky Road cookies.
• Can't say no to Rocky Road.
• Someone bought all the rocky road from the Dixie stop.
• And my apologies for the rocky road.
• After a mile of rocky road, impossible to miss the Chiusetta.