high horse

American  

noun

1. a haughty attitude or temper; a contemptuous manner.

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high horse Cultural  

1. To be on one's “high horse” is to be disdainful or conceited: “Sally got tired of Peter's snobbery and finally told him to get off his high horse.”

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high horse Idioms  

1. see on one's high horse.

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Etymology

Origin of high horse

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425

Example Sentences

In the chapter’s introduction, she urges coastal skeptics to come down from their high horses and consider what these dishes are actually doing.

From Salon

“She needs to get off her high horse and not think that I was thinking about her for the last 15 years.”

From Salon

Why must we sit up on our high horse and act like books are the one thing you can never get rid of?

From Salon

“If you don’t want to get off your high horse to see what we like, then it’s natural that you will be washed-out,” Ms. Li said.

From New York Times

“Sometimes college students don’t understand the severity of things,” Oats said from his high horse following the game.

From Washington Post