take the high road

American  

[teyk thuh hahy rohd] / ˈteɪk ðə ˈhaɪ ˌroʊd /

idiom

1. to take a more honorable or ethical course of action.

   The moderator is hoping that candidates will take the high road on debate night and stick to discussing the issues instead of flinging mud at each other.

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Etymology

Origin of take the high road

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

“I’m not happy,” Mary Jo told me, “I’m probably going to go home and cry, but that’s our process. I’m here to support our candidate. We take the high road.”

From Slate

“Rather than going back and forth, we decided to take the high road,” says Seager, his manager.

From The Wall Street Journal

Neither was Marc Maron, who admitted during a recent live show, “It’s kind of easy for me to take the high road on this one. Easy to maintain your integrity when no one’s offering to buy it.”

From Salon

Evans asked her if there was ever a moment in which she didn’t want to take the high road.

From Los Angeles Times

The host of the “WTF With Marc Maron” podcast, which is ending this fall after 16 years, went on to say that because he wasn’t asked to perform, “it’s kind of easy for me to take the high road on this one.”

From Los Angeles Times