high horse

high horse

An attitude of moral superiority. Typically used in the phrases "get off (one's) high horse" and "on (one's) high horse." My sister needs to get off her high horse and stop lecturing me because I know she was a troublemaker as a teenager! The radio host is known for always being on his high horse, despite the fact that everyone knows he's a creep.
See also: high, horse
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

on one's high horse, to be

To put on airs; to behave arrogantly. As long ago as the fourteenth century, persons of high rank rode very tall horses, a custom that came to symbolize superiority and arrogance. By 1800 or so, to be or to get on one’s high horse meant to act superior, with or without justification.
See also: high, on
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • up high
  • be as high as a kite
  • set (one's) sights high
  • set your sights high/low
  • the heat is on
  • ride high
  • riding high
  • near and dear to (one)
  • have a high opinion of (someone or something)
  • in high gear
References in periodicals archive
So, today, I will not only be getting on my high horse, I shall be galloping into battle on it.
When you think of a decision you must make, Decide, but leave room for alternatives to take, You will find this is a fairer way overall, Better to climb from a high horse than fall.
Ticket prices and performance times for the entire High Horse Tour are yet to be announced, except for Aberdeen.
Time for a spending review and cuts, I think, when we can't afford aircraft carriers, Nimrods and the latest weaponry but we have plenty of money to spend on QCs, high horses and donkeys.
My advice to Mrs Henry is to get off her high horse and think a bit before she writes her next letter, which I am sure won't be long.
After a couple months of trife livin', Evan Hernandez is back on the high horse with a pro slot at DGK.
We can't even get anyone to stay for coffee after Confirmation." "Well" (I got on my high horse), "if people coming straight from the altar rail where we've shared our Lord's body and blood given and shed for us can't even be bothered to spend ten minutes sharing coffee and cake with strangers welcoming us to their marriage feast, I've got serious questions about what we're doing!" "Yeah," she said, "I hear you.
He said, "I had a lot of pressure too from my AMA members, saying, 'Get off your high horse and come down to the real world and just see what is happening out there'."
Field Master Peter Rigal, whose 17-hand high horse struck the protester, said he was one of a small group of about eight who tried to sabotage the event.
He asks if the church recognizes victims along the road, gets off its high horse, bends down and has compassion.
When Bush flies solo we get "Kosovarians," "full exposure" for full disclosure, and such hilarious mixed metaphors as John McCain "can't take the high horse and claim the low road."
Lest we ascend too far on our high horse, we should point out that we receive the benefits of paying no sales tax on advertising and subscriptions.
Junior Baby, and possibly his creator, anticipates and answers such criticism when he says, "I swear I don't mean to ride my high horse / but when you hear your young brother / courting an early grave / cause he like the clickclack / a bullet make shifting into the barrel of a gun / rally ain't no more time for subtlety." The message of the poems and their mature orality are urgently needed, but for me the power of that message comes from being drawn into the experience and perspective of Junior Baby by Harris's subtle version of vernacular style and narrative characterization.
DUP leader Arlene Foster should get down from her hard "Brexiteer high horse" and rethink her opposition to the proposed deal, Sinn Fein's president has said.