high horse

noun

a haughty attitude or temper; a contemptuous manner.

Origin

1375-1425; late Middle English

Examples from the web for high horse

He did ride a high horse when the fit was on him and he thought it served his purpose.
And my toenails would be little pink ocean shells, which they would have to stoop down off their high horse to kiss.
Instead, it's decided to get onto a self-defeating moralistic high horse.
Cabin crew should be put down a peg or two and management ought to get off their high horse too.
So get off your high horse and start thinking rationally.
Once you get off of the high horse of down the nose judgment, you might see that.
To me, the only unlikable aspect is when he gets on his high horse about killing.
Start promoting the slashing of government budgets equitably, or get off your high horse.
Eric, your attempt at gallantry is noble, but you went a little out of your way to get on your high horse.
They need to get off the high horse and act toward coyote control now.

Word Origin and History for high horse

originally (late 14c.) "fine, tall horse; war horse, charger" (high steed is from c.1300), also, like high hall, "status symbol;" figurative sense of "airs, easily wounded dignity" in mount (one's) high horse "affect airs of superiority" is from 1782 (Addison has to ride the great horse in the same sense, 1716). Cf. French monter sur ses grands chevaux; "The simile is common to most languages" [Farmer].

high horse in Culture

high horse definition

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.”

Slang definitions & phrases for high horse

high horse

Idioms and Phrases with high horse

high horse

see: on one's high horse