petition that has been going around high schools across the province since the fall. high sea • high seas high sea—1. a rough sea marked by high waves: The ship has an advanced hullform that provides for outstanding sta- bility and speed in high sea states. 2. the area of sea (away from the coast) that is not under the sovereignty of any state: Controversy arose out of demands on the part of different states to assert exclusive dominion over areas of the high sea . high seas— = high sea 2: “This is still a valuable ship,” explained Torrance, “even if she is floating around the high seas on the installment plan.” high spirit • high spirits high spirit—1. mentality characterized by lofty and noble ideas: Her ability to forgive, her high spirit , her faith are the things that inspire me. 2. said of a bold and audacious person: She hoped she had tamed a high spirit or two in her day. high spirits —vivacity; cheerfulness: She hadn’t the high spir - its which endear grown-ups to healthy children. high tea • low tea high tea —(UK) an early evening tea with a full meal (as a substitute for dinner): He thought of the high tea to which he sat down … a slice of cold meat, a great deal of bread and butter and plenty of milk in his tea. low tea—tea with just bread and butter, cookies, or cake: Low tea was served in the low part of the afternoon, in aris- tocratic homes of the wealthy, and featured gourmet tidbits rather than solid meals. high time • low time high time—1. (also: full time) time when smth. should be done at once: Tom was beginning to feel that it was high time for him to be getting to regular work again. 2. (in the phrase “have a high time”) have enjoyable, noisy and joyful time: The Johns had a high time , drinking brandy and eating fried hog. low time—a short period of time: Never make a negative decision in the low time . Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst moods. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase down time1. the time when a machine or computer is not operating: The amount of “down time ” due to faulty machine operation is very low. 2. (coll.) an opportunity for rest; time off: People talk of “enjoying the down-time ” when they are having a break. See also: peak time / up time. high up the stick • up the stick high up the stick —(dated sl.) standing high in one’s profes- sion: All my acquaintance among the doctors are so high up the stick , they have no time to spare… up the stick —(UK sl.) pregnant: Mary is up the stick ; funny how everyone counts the months. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the verbal phrase up sticks—(also: up stakes) leave one’s home or set- tled way of life and move on to another place: What on earth impels a man … suddenly to up sticks and come back to this distressful country? high water • highwaters high water —1. the tide when the surface of the water is at its greatest elevation: The height from low water to high water is called the range of the tide. 2. a flooded river or lake: She wanted a new house after a high water on the river carried her old one away. highwaters —(sl.) trousers that are shorter than fashion dic- tates: His jovial blue highwaters are replaced by dark black Levi’s Hard Jeans. high words • high-sounding words high words—words spoken in a raised or loud voice (usually uttered in a heated argument): A short altercation ended speedily in high words on both sides. high-sounding words—pretentious, bombastic words: Soph- omorical, a term applied to speeches and writings containing high-sounding words and but little sense. See also: high language / high-flown language. highball something • lowball something highball something —(coll.) drive a vehicle at high speed: Our conductor called “All aboard!” … then highballed the train. A few minutes later he got a phone call stating a pas- senger had gotten left behind. lowball something—(coll.) deliberately underestimate or understate a cost, figure, etc.: This is all my fault, but he was one of my first clients and I lowballed the price just to get the work. higher school • upper school higher school—higher education beyond school, especially to degree level: It is hard to predict an individual’s ability to master the higher school program. upper school —a secondary school for children aged from fourteen upwards: Physical education classes are part of the upper school weekly schedule. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase finishing school—private school preparing upper-class girls for social life: She attended one term at a Swiss finishing school after which she ended her formal schooling and obtained a job. highly colored • of a high color highly colored—(also: high colored) 1. brightly colored; full of color: Compounds of this type are highly colored , and are used as dyes. 2. (of prose) pompous and pretentious: Some chapters are factual and suitable, but others are couched in the most highly colored cinematic prose. 3. (of a narrative) sensationalized or exaggerated: Travelers’ tales are often highly colored , as you know. of a high color —(of wine, complexion, etc.) of red or reddish color: A liquor called Morocco … is of a high color , and is made from malt and hops. hire out something • hire something hire out something—allow the temporary use of smth. in return for payment: The boat-yard belonged to an old-estab- lished family firm, who hired out river craft. hire something—obtain the temporary use of smth. in return for payment: I have hired a self-drive car, as there seems no other way of getting about Cyprus. historic event • historical event historic event—an event notable or memorable in history: The meeting between the two great leaders was a historic event . historical event—an event pertaining to history as contrasted with legend or fiction: This battle is a historical event docu- mented in the archives. hit bottom • hit the roof hit bottom —(of prices, sales, etc.) reach the lowest or worst point (also: touch bottom): Our profits have hit bottom . This is our worst year ever. hit the roof —(also: go through the roof ) 1. show extreme anger about smth.: The Prime Minister and his cabinet would hit the roof if they knew half of the things that went on. 2. (of prices, sales, etc.) increase very rapidly; surpass the expected limit: Once the summer season hits and tourism begins to rise, gas prices hit the roof . – 175 – hit bottom