high ground
33
4.2
- noun
- /haɪ ɡraʊnd/
- Informal
:
posición de ventaja
- He lost the high ground in the argument when he resorted to personal attacks instead of sticking to the issues.
- take the high ground
- claim the high ground
- moral high ground
But I I don't see the moral high ground getting DeSantis anywhere.
- But I I don't see the moral high ground getting DeSantis anywhere.
- And here I'm going to claim a certain kind of high ground and expertise.
- So so the liberal left cannot claim the science high ground in that argument.
- So do not stand on the moral high ground.
- But now it's much harder to make that case because there is no more moral high ground left.
- And ISIS from their perch, from the high ground, just raked them all with machine guns and killed all of them.
- And this is this concept that I learned from a PhD named Pat Davidson and he talks a lot about high ground, low ground movements.
- You know, think about this, high ground in ground warfare provides A tactical advantage, right?
Examples
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Republicans do not have a moral high ground to stand on against Democrats on most issues.
Blog text (7) -
But perhaps the greatest cost of the invasion was a loss of moral high ground on the global stage.
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Stick to the high ground.
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Never, under any circumstances, give up the high ground.
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You hold the high ground.
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You take the high ground.
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So conservatives cannot claim the high ground when it comes to family values.
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Thus, Chinese officials generally strive to claim the moral high ground in any diplomatic negotiations.
Academic text (1990) -
In their conflict with the Palestinians, for example, the Israelis claim the moral high ground.
Academic text (2002) -
A set of three large rivers flowed down from this high ground westward toward Pittsburgh.
Blog text (15)
Synonyms
54
3.2
A position giving power or advantage over someone in a situation
9
3.9
A situation that gives someone more power in talks or competition
9
8.2
A position of power over other people or groups
3
4.4
A position of respect and importance in society or at work
2
4.3
A respected place in a group because people admire you
Antonyms
How Advantageous
- Informal
33
4.2
- Informal
54
3.2
∞
2.8
22
4.4
108
2.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a position of advantage' is directly derived from the literal senses of 'high' (elevated/superior) and 'ground' (a position or piece of land) via a straightforward spatial-to-social metaphor (higher ground = advantage). This compositional metaphor is common cross-linguistically and follows normal English noun phrase formation, so a B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer the idiomatic sense.
Etymology
The noun high ground comes from the image of standing on high ground, like a hill, where you can see more and are harder to attack. That's why high ground now means a 'position of advantage' or being seen as 'morally better' in a debate or situation.