to top it all
Can I use the idioms "to top it all" in both sentences below? Are they correct?

(1) There was a blizzard yesterday, and, to top it all, it resulted in heavy casualties.
(2) Tom got permission from Harvard University, and, to top it all, he won a full scholarship.

Question

to top it all
Can I use the idioms "to top it all" in both sentences below? Are they correct?

(1) There was a blizzard yesterday, and, to top it all, it resulted in heavy casualties.
(2) Tom got permission from Harvard University, and, to top it all, he won a full scholarship.

Answer

The phrase carries some feeling with it, like joy, surprise, or disappointment.  It looks odd in the first sentence because it seems like a neutral, factual report.  However, it looks good in your second example.

Answer

In the US, we usually say, "to top it off", not "all"

As Michael points out, the first sentence is odd.

In the second, the word you want is "admission" not "permission" but "to top it" is used in a natural way.

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