of the highest order

of the highest order

Of the greatest importance, significance, or magnitude. You have to study Shakespeare because he is a poet of the highest order. We need to close the highway immediately—this is an emergency of the highest order.
See also: high, of, order
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

of the highest/first ˈorder

,

of a high ˈorder

of the best, worst, most extreme, etc. type: It was a scandal of the first order.
See also: first, high, of, order
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • of the first order
  • of the highest/first order
  • first magnitude/order/water, of the
  • magnitude
  • of the first magnitude
  • of the highest magnitude
  • of great moment
  • of moment
  • rank with
  • rate with
References in classic literature
Moreover, his poetry is for the most part lacking in delicacy and fine shading; scarcely a score of his lyrics are of the highest order. He gives us often the blaring music of a military band or the loud, swelling volume of an organ, but very seldom the softer tones of a violin or symphony.
Agnes,' 'Isabella,' 'Lamia,' the fragmentary 'Hyperion,' and his half dozen great odes, probably contains more poetry of the highest order than any other book of original verse, of so small a size, ever sent from the press.
Henri has not received a regular education; perhaps her natural talents are not of the highest order: but I can assure you of the excellence of her intentions, and even of the amiability of her disposition.
But, for the season, after the independence of the States was established, this sect of Christians languished for the want of the highest order of its priesthood.
It is very well to say one is greater than Keats, or not so great as Wordsworth; that one is or is not of the highest order of poets like Shakespeare and Dante and Goethe; but that does not mean anything of value, and I never find my account in it.
Whist has long been noted for its influence upon what is termed the calculating power; and men of the highest order of intellect have been known to take an apparently unaccountable delight in it, while eschewing chess as frivolous.
Beyond the confines of the Galu country is little danger from the Wieroo, who seek ordinarily only Galus of the highest orders. There are two excellent reasons for this: One is that from the beginning of time jealousy had existed between the Wieroo and the Galus as to which would eventually dominate the world.
Ambushing Kenyans with a bill and telling them that the train had already left the station so brace for a referendum with taxpayers' money is bullying of the highest order. Kenyans cannot just be pushed into a process that is not accepted across the board.
Greater Manchester Police described the vandalism as 'disrespect of the highest order.'.
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Friday that 'democratic countries need to stand together to make it an international taboo of the highest order to order the arrest or detain journalists for doing their job.'
It saddens me to witness the hypocrisy of the highest order and the smug faces that are defending their brutalities.
WAR hero James Cockram received an honour of the highest order from Britain's wartime allies France, in a recent ceremony held in Merseyside.
Or do I broadcast justifiable criticism as they come to terms with a sixth year of dross on the pitch, and ineptitude of the highest order off it?
But one troop who served under him said: "His gallantry and experience is of the highest order and he's known for putting the welfare of his soldiers before himself."
The scope of the Bharat Ratna, which was earlier restricted to the field of "exceptional services in arts, literature and science, and in recognition of public services of the highest order" has been recently expanded to include the performance of the highest order "in any field of human endeavour" which has enabled sportspersons to dream of the honour.