high /haɪ/► SEE ALLbe for the high jumpbe/get on your high horsehave a high old timehigh and dryhigh and lowhigh and mighty(as) high as a kitehigh days and holidayshigh fivehigh jinksthe high point/spot of sthin high dudgeonon highon the high seasrun highsmell/stink to high heaventake the high road (in sth)fly highhave friends in high places(come) hell or high watertake, claim, seize, etc. the moral high groundof the highest/first orderof a high orderadopt, keep, etc. a high/low profileriding highset your sights high/lowlook/feel smallbe in high/low spiritsit’s high/about time (that)… ●be for the ˈhigh jump (BrE, informal) be about to be punished, criticized, dismissed, etc.将受到惩罚（或批评、开除等）◆When your father sees your school report, you’ll be for the high jump. 等你父亲看到成绩单，你就等着挨训吧。ORIGINThis was first used as a military term and refers to the punishment of hanging somebody.这个习语最初用作军事术语，意为“绞刑”。●be/get on your ˌhigh ˈhorsebe annoyed because you think that sb has not treated you with enough respect（认为别人不尊敬自己而）愤愤不平◆When they suggested that she might have made a mistake, she got on her high horse and asked them how they dared question her ability. 他们提出她可能犯了个错误，她便气呼呼地质问他们怎么敢怀疑她的能力。●have a ˈhigh old time (old-fashioned, informal) enjoy yourself very much玩得很开心◆When I left them they were having a high old time singing and dancing on the tables! 我走的时候，他们站在桌上又唱又跳，开心极了！●ˌhigh and ˈdryin a difficult situation without help or money处境艰难；陷入困境；孤立无援◆When the travel company went bankrupt, many holidaymakers were left high and dry abroad or waiting at the airport. 这家旅行社破产时，很多度假者被困在国外或滞留在机场。NOTE This expression refers to boats left on the beach after the level of the sea has fallen.这个表达法原指落潮后船搁浅在海滩上。●ˌhigh and ˈlow(search, etc. for sth) in every possible place; everywhere上上下下，到处（寻找）◆I’ve been hunting high and low for that pen, where did you find it? 我到处都找遍了也没找到那支笔，你是在哪儿找到的？●ˌhigh and ˈmighty (informal) behaving as though you think you are more important than other people趾高气扬；神气活现◆He’s too high and mighty to mix with ordinary people like us! 看他高高在上的样子，不会跟我们这些普通人混在一起的！●(as) high as a ˈkite (informal) in an excited state, especially because of drugs, alcohol, etc.（尤指因吸毒或酗酒等）处于兴奋状态，精神恍惚◆He was as high as a kite when they came to arrest him. 他们来逮捕他时，他还是醉醺醺的。●ˌhigh days and ˈholidaysfestivals and special occasions节庆假日；特殊日子◆This 19th-century dish was traditionally made on high days and holidays, and is still often eaten at Christmas. 这道菜是 19 世纪节庆假日的传统菜肴，至今在圣诞节人们还常吃。●ˌhigh ˈfive (especially NAmE) an action to celebrate victory or to express happiness in which two people raise one arm each and hit their open hands together（表示庆祝或高兴而）举手击掌◆Way to go! High five! 好样的！击掌庆祝一下吧！◆Her teammates cheered and gave her a high five. 她的队友大声欢呼，并和她击掌庆祝。●ˌhigh ˈjinks (old-fashioned, informal) a lot of fun and amusement狂欢作乐；纵情狂欢◆They got up to all sorts of high jinks on the trip. 他们在旅途中尽情玩乐。ORIGINThis refers to a particular game that was played at drinking parties.这个习语原指酒会上玩的一种游戏。●the ˈhigh point/spot of sththe best, most interesting, entertaining, etc. part of sth最好（或最有趣等）的部分；顶点；最佳状态◆The high spot of our trip was the visit to Rome. 我们旅行中最带劲的是游览罗马。◆It was the high point of the evening. 那是晚会的高潮。●in ˌhigh ˈdudgeon (old-fashioned, written) in an angry or offended mood, and showing other people that you are angry愤然；怒气冲冲◆After being refused entry to the club, he went off in high dudgeon. 想进俱乐部但遭到拒绝后，他怒气冲冲地离开了。●on ˈhigh1. (formal) in a high place在高处◆We gazed down into the valley from on high. 我们从高处向下俯瞰山谷。2. (humorous) the people in senior positions in an organization（机构的）高层人员◆An order came down from on high that from now on lunchbreaks were to be half an hour and no longer. 上头指示说，今后午餐休息时间不得超过半小时。3.in heaven在天上◆The disaster was seen as a judgement from on high. 这场灾难被视作上天的惩罚。●on the ˌhigh ˈseasin international waters; on a part of the sea which does not belong to any country在公海上◆What happens if a crime is committed on the high seas? 在公海上发生犯罪会怎样？●run ˈhigh (especially of feelings尤指情绪) be strong and angry or excited高昂；激动◆As usual, emotions ran high at the awards ceremony last night. 跟往常一样，昨晚的颁奖典礼上群情激昂。●smell/stink to high ˈheaven (informal) 1.have a very strong and unpleasant smell气味浓烈难闻；臭气熏天◆When was the last time you cleaned the dog kennel? It stinks to high heaven. 你都多久没打扫狗窝了？简直是臭气熏天。2.seem to be very dishonest or morally unacceptable极不诚实；不道德；腐败透顶◆This whole deal stinks to high heaven. I’m sure somebody was bribed. 这完全是一笔腐败不堪的交易，肯定有人受贿了。●take the ˈhigh road (in sth) (NAmE) take the most positive course of action采取最积极的行动方针◆He took the high road in his campaign. 他在竞选活动中采取了最积极的方针。●fly ˈhighbe successful成功；兴旺◆The business is flying high at the moment, making large profits and attracting a lot of investors.目前企业红红火火，盈利颇丰，吸引了众多投资者。▸ˌhigh-ˈflyer ( ˌhigh-ˈflier)
noun
◆academic high-flyers有学术抱负的人●have ˌfriends in high ˈplacesknow important people with power and influence who can help you有身居高位的朋友◆Ask Geoff to help with the campaign. He’s got friends in high places.让杰夫来帮助开展这次运动吧，他在上层有些朋友。●(come) ˌhell or high ˈwaterwhatever the difficulties or opposition may be不论有什么困难；无论如何◆Come hell or high water, we’ve got to reach the injured men tonight.哪怕得赴汤蹈火，今晚我们都要赶到伤员身边。●take, claim, seize, etc. the moral ˈhigh groundclaim that your side of an argument is morally better than your opponents’ side; argue in a way that makes your side seem morally better占据道德高地◆Don’t you try to take the moral high ground with me! You’re just as bad as I am!你别想拿道德来压我！你不比我好到哪里去！●of the highest/first ˈorder●of a high ˈorderof the best, worst, most extreme, etc. type高品质的；一流的；最差的◆It was a scandal of the first order.这是桩特大丑闻。●adopt, keep, etc. a ˌhigh/ˌlow ˈprofiletry/try not to attract other people’s interest, attention, etc.尽量惹人／不惹人注目；保持高／低姿态◆If I were you, I’d try and keep a low profile until she’s forgotten about the whole thing.如果我是你的话，我会保持低调，直到她忘记整件事。◆In the run-up to the elections all three candidates maintained a high profile.在大选前的竞选期间三位候选人都保持着高姿态。●riding ˈhighvery successful or confident很成功；很自信◆The company has been riding high for the last two years, but will their success continue?过去两年来公司蒸蒸日上，但是情况会持久吗？●set your sights ˈhigh/ˈlowbe ambitious/not ambitious; expect a lot/little from your life有／无雄心大志；人生目标高／低◆If you set your sights high, you could do anything.如果你志向高远，一切皆有可能。●look/feel ˈsmall ( feel ˈthat high) feel stupid, embarrassed or ridiculous in front of other people显得／感觉矮人一截；显得／感到渺小；显得／觉得难为情◆Why did you tell everyone that I’d failed all my school exams? I felt so small.你为什么跟谁都说我考试门门不及格？我觉得太丢脸了。◆Mrs Jones made him feel that high when she criticized his work in front of everybody.琼斯夫人当着众人的面批评他的工作，让他觉得矮人一截。NOTE When using the expression feel that high, you often use your thumb and finger to indicate something small.使用 feel that high 这一表达法时，常以拇指及其他手指示意只有那么小。●be in high/low ˈspirits ( in good/poor ˈspirits) be happy and cheerful/sad and miserable情绪高涨／低落◆John was in rather low spirits all evening.约翰一晚上都闷闷不乐。▸ˌhigh-ˈspirited, ˌlow-ˈspirited
adjective
◆high-spirited children兴高采烈的孩子们●it’s ˌhigh/aˌbout ˈtime (that)… (spoken) used for saying that sth should be done or happen immediately or very soon现在／差不多是…的时候了；该做…了◆It’s high time that this room was properly cleaned!这个房间该好好打扫一下了！◆So you’ve started work! It’s about time!(= you should have started a long time ago).哦，你终于开始工作了！早该开始了！
