high horse

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high horse

n. Informal

A mood or attitude of stubborn arrogance or contempt: Get down off your high horse and apologize.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

high′ horse′

a haughty attitude.

[1375–1425]

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Noun

high horse - an attitude of arrogant superiority; "get off your high horse and admit you are wrong"

attitude, mental attitude - a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways; "he had the attitude that work was fun"

References in classic literature ?

"And riding the high horse, now and then, is one of them.

Different women have different ways of riding the high horse. The late Mrs.

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"Only she got on her high horse. Said that Daisy was as much my mother as yourn, even if we did have different fathers, and that the chest had always belonged in Daisy's family and not Captain Kit's, an' that it was mine, an' what was mine she had some say-so about."

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Rose came down from her high horse with a rapidity that was comical, for Ariadne had the upper hand now.

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Prettyman was a Miss Fothergill, and her sister had married a London mercer.) "He's an amusing fellow; and I've no objection to his making one at the Oyster Club; but he's a bit too fond of riding the high horse. He's uncommonly knowing, I'll allow; but how came he to go to the Indies?

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Lawrence would say no more, so I decided that I would descend from my high horse, and once more seek out Poirot at Leastways Cottage.

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She appeared to be on her high horse to-night; both her words and her air seemed intended to excite not only the admiration, but the amazement of her auditors: she was evidently bent on striking them as something very dashing and daring indeed.

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These young people are to be applauded for bringing to our attention the harm that we are doing to their planet, and Damian Hinds needs to get off his high horse and recognise their passion and commitment for such a vitally important cause.

Irony of the views of Education Minister

BATH: 5.45 Toolatetodelegate, 6.20 High Horse, 6.50 Zarrar, 7.25 Wind In My Sails, 7.55 Met By Moonlight, 8.30 On A Roll, 9.00 Prominna.

today's tips

Bath Wednesday Going GOOD (Good to soft in places; 7.9) Weather Sunny Wind Moderate across STAR PERFORMER The Daley Express (7.50) won nicely and has been in good form during the early part of the season EYECATCHER High Horse (5.45) couldn't justify strong support but won't be long in going one better DIVIDENDS AND SPREAD MAKE-UPS Jackpot Not Won.

Bath Wednesday Going GOOD (Good [...]

Get off your high horse and accept the vote of the majority.Mrs A Reid, Cumbernauld