high waters

American  

plural noun

Slang.

1. trousers short enough to expose the ankles, especially as worn by growing children whom they earlier fit.

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Etymology

Origin of high waters

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

high waters

The levee that restrained the Cedar River here for years blocked access to the channels that give salmon and other fish an escape from seasonal high waters.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 19, 2023

California’s high waters are now receding, but the opportunity to capture runoff will likely continue through the spring as a hefty mountain snowpack melts.

From Science Magazine ● Jan. 22, 2023

The sheriff’s office in Volusia County said it was looking into whether it needed to acquire more vehicles capable of traveling in high waters.

From New York Times ● Oct. 21, 2022

Signs warning people about dangerously high waters stuck out of the riverbed, and rocks lay exposed.

From Reuters ● Aug. 10, 2022

The high waters along the shoreline had caused some of the animals to migrate inland, deep into the Amazonian rain forest.

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple