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 EU's Artificial Intelligence Act places controls on high risk systems used in areas such as education, healthcare, law enforcement or elections.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
Already, some school districts are on high alert.
From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2026
Dayna told us about her mother’s going back to school to become a lawyer, studying for the bar exam at the kitchen table alongside her daughter working on high school math problems.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
"Dynamic reconstruction enables low-loading catalysts to achieve high performance, offering new opportunities for the rational design of efficient catalysts while reducing reliance on high metal loadings."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 9, 2026
A wavering beam of light snaps on high in the night sky.
From "Without Refuge" by Jane Mitchell
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.
