on high
Idioms-
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]
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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 .
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The party has also outlined proposals it says would cut electricity bills for businesses, and has promised to hire an extra 10,000 police officers to tackle crime on high streets.
From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026
Many cannot receive certain vaccines and depend on high community vaccination for protection.
From Salon • Apr. 22, 2026
“No other country has gone to such lengths on high speed and high voltage,” Ma writes.
From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026
The charitable-giving rule changes in the tax law had the biggest impact on high earners like many clients of Boston-based Civic Financial.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
He was actually smiling now, and when the crowd greeted a particularly good save with arousing chorus of the old favorite “Weasley Is Our King,” he pretended to conduct them from on high.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
