on high horse

  • 1high horse — originally (late 14c.) fine, tall horse; war horse, charger (high steed is from c.1300), also, like high hall, status symbol; figurative sense of airs, easily wounded dignity in mount (one s) high horse affect airs of superiority is from 1782… …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 2high horse — high′ horse′ n. a haughty attitude • Etymology: 1375–1425 …

    From formal English to slang

  • 3high horse — noun an attitude of arrogant superiority get off your high horse and admit you are wrong • Hypernyms: ↑attitude, ↑mental attitude * * * noun 1. : an unyielding, pretentious, or arrogant mood : a high and mighty air or attitude …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 4high horse — /ˈhaɪ hɔs/ (say huy haws) noun 1. a warhorse; charger. –phrase 2. get off one s high horse, to cease to adopt a superior or indignant tone. 3. get on one s high horse, Colloquial to adopt a superior tone or attitude that gives offence to others.… …

  • 5high horse — n. (colloq.) arrogance to get on one s high horse * * * (colloq.) [ arrogance ] to get on one s high horse …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 6To be on a high horse — High High, a. [Compar. {Higher}; superl. {Highest}.] [OE. high, hegh, hey, heh, AS. he[ a]h, h?h; akin to OS. h?h, OFries. hag, hach, D. hoog, OHG. h?h, G. hoch, Icel. h?r, Sw. h[ o]g, Dan. h[ o]i, Goth. hauhs, and to Icel. haugr mound, G. h[… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 7on one's high horse — {adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Acting as if you are better than others; being very proud and scornful. * /Martha was chairman of the picnic committee, and at the picnic she was on her high horse, telling everyone what to do./ * /Mrs. Jones asked to… …

    Dictionary of American idioms

  • 8on one's high horse — {adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Acting as if you are better than others; being very proud and scornful. * /Martha was chairman of the picnic committee, and at the picnic she was on her high horse, telling everyone what to do./ * /Mrs. Jones asked to… …

    Dictionary of American idioms

  • 9on\ one's\ high\ horse — adj. phr. informal 1. Acting as if you are better than others; being very proud and scornful. Martha was chairman of the picnic committee, and at the picnic she was on her high horse, telling everyone what to do. Mrs. Jones asked to see a less… …

    Словарь американских идиом

  • 10get off your high horse — get off (your) high horse to stop acting as if you are better or more intelligent than other people. He never got off his high horse long enough to consider how insulting his words were to many immigrants. Usage notes: also used in the forms… …

    New idioms dictionary