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Cinderella stared thoughtfully at the sky from the top floor of her high-rise office building. Her stepsister Diana was again acting high and mighty. And as for her stepmother, she had been on her high horse ever since she had found out that the prince had invited her to the annual ball. They both thought that she was being granted undue favours from on high. The fact that she held the high ground in her late father’s company also irked the two of them no end. It was high time they both were brought down to earth, thought Cinderella. Just one day before the invite had come in, Diana had informed her in her usual high-handed manner that she would be going to the ball because the prince was sure to invite her. But she had been left high and dry when the prince had chosen to invite Cinderella instead. The prince was a highflier and everyone who was invited to the ball had high expectations from it, but nothing could have matched the high drama of the ball. The high point of the evening had been when the prince had searched high and low for her slipper. The thought that the prince had a soft corner for her put her in high spirits. After all, it did pay to have friends in high places! Key to idioms used Be flying high: used to say that a company or person is very successful High-rise: a tall modern building with a lot of floors High and mighty: behaving in a superior arrogant manner Be/get on one’s high horse: if someone gets on their high horse about subject, they become angry about it and start criticising other people as if they are better or more clever than them From on high: from someone is a position of authority The high ground: if a person or an organisation has the high ground, they are in the best and most successful situation It’s high time (one did something): said when something must be done without more delay In a high-handed fashion/manner: in an arrogant fashion, without consideration for the wishes or opinions of others Leave someone high and dry: to put someone in a very difficult situation which they have no way of making better Highflier: someone who is very successful at their job and soon becomes powerful or rich Have high hopes/expectation: to hope for or expect very good results or great success High drama/adventure: events or situations that are very exciting The high point/spot: the best part of an activity or occasion Hunt/search high and low: to search everywhere for something Be in high spirits: be in a lively, cheerful mood Have friends in high places: to know important people who can help you get what you want Interesting origins If someone is ‘for the high jump’, they will be punished or severely criticised for something they have done wrong. This phrase developed, probably via military slang, from an earlier meaning which simply meant facing a difficulty. Its origin can be traced to steeple chasing, in which a high jump is a major obstacle. (Reference: Cambridge
International Dictionary of Idioms) |
