high and mighty

High and mighty is often used as an adverb meaning in an arrogant or self-important manner, as in Please stop acting so high and mighty—you’re not the boss here.

The word mighty means strong, powerful, or of great importance.

When someone acts as if they are superior or in charge, they can be said to be acting high and mighty. This is especially the case when they’re not actually superior or in charge.

High and mighty can also be used as an adjective, in which case it’s often hyphenated (high-and-mighty), as in Take your high-and-mighty attitude elsewhere—we work as a team here.

The phrase can also be used as a collective noun to refer to people who are considered powerful, as in The high and mighty take too much and give too little. The word mighty can be used in the same way, as in The rich and mighty hold all the power.

Example: Don’t get all high and mighty with me—I’m the one who trained you.

The first records of the phrase high and mighty come from around 1400.

Originally, being called high and mighty was a good thing—it was a title given to high-born rulers. By the 1600s, though, it came to be used to describe those who acted as if they were superior to those around them, as if they were royalty and everyone else was peasants. This is still how high and mighty is used today.

What are some other forms related to high and mighty?

• high-and-mighty (hyphenated adjective)
• high and mightiness (noun)

What are some synonyms for high and mighty?

• arrogantly
• conceitedly
• haughtily
• arrogant
• conceited
• haughty
• superior

What are some words that share a root or word element with high and mighty? 

• high
• mighty
• high horse

What are some words that often get used in discussing high and mighty?

• act
• get
• all
• better

High and mighty is almost always used in a negative way.

Y’all better stop acting all high and mighty!!!

— elexus jionde (@Lexual__) December 1, 2020

I don't understand why you'd befriend someone younger than you and not respect them. Don't befriend them if you want to act so high and mighty.

— Yuno (@Ummaty_) December 20, 2020

some of y’all rlly out here acting all high and mighty then not sticking to what you preach lmfao. hypocrisy at its ~finest~, but you do you 🐸🍵

— spoingus (@edm_spoingus) September 16, 2020

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of high and mighty?

A. conceitedly

B. arrogantly

C. haughtily

D. humbly