on high
Related to on high: Getting high
on high
1. In heaven or the heavens. It's said that our Lord sits on high, with a plan for each and every one of us. As children, we used to stare into the night sky, fixing our eyes on high, trying to understand the enormity of the cosmos.
2. In a position of power, influence, or authority. It seems that those on high have determined that we in the working class aren't worth the same as those in the top 1 percent.
See also: high, on
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
on high
1. Up in the sky; also, in heaven. For example, They fixed their eyes on high, looking for the comet, or, in the Bible (Psalms 63:5), "The Lord our God who dwelleth on high." [c. 1200]
2. In a position of authority, as in Those on high have decreed that we work every other weekend. This usage is an ironic transfer from def. 1. Also see powers that be.
See also: high, on
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
on ˈhigh
1 (formal) in a high place: We gazed down into the valley from on high.
2 (humorous) the people in senior positions in an organization: An order came down from on high that from now on lunchbreaks were to be half an hour and no longer.
3 in heaven: The disaster was seen as a judgement from on high.
See also: high, on
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
on high
1. High in the sky.
2. In heaven.
3. In a position of authority.
See also: high, on
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- smell to heaven
- fix (one) with a stare
- heavens opened
- my heavens
- (good) heavens
- Good heavens!
- heavens!
- in heaven
- heaven knows
- move heaven and earth, to