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Glite Dictionary
to look high and low

to look high and low

1 3.9
To search everywhere for something that is lost
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : buscar por todas partes
  • I looked high and low and searched every inch of my suitcase and all the pockets of the clothing I'd taken with me, but I never found it.

The police had looked high and low, but they could not find it, just as they could not locate the murder weapon they had a receipt for AK Bar knife.

Examples

  • We looked high and low for a cost-effective, modern solution that will make it a breeze for patrons and box office operators alike to get tickets and print in a snap.

    Blog text (3)

  • I've looked high and low for that tape, but I think somebody stole it.

  • I had to look high and low to find the right equipment.

    The Whoopee Boys (1986)

  • Folks looked high and low, but it was nowhere to be found.

    Pete's Dragon (2016)

  • 'Cause I got something that you've been looking high and low for.

    3 from Hell (2019)

  • 'My God, we've looked high and low for you.'

    Silent Running (1972)

  • I've looked high and low for that tape, but I think somebody stole it.

    Illegally Yours (1988)

  • I had to look high and low to find the right equipment.

  • I've been looking high and low for you.

Synonyms

to look for
vsto look high and low
∞ 1.0

To try to find something or someone

is the idiom for searching everywhere thoroughly rather than simple trying
to search
vsto look high and low
∞ 1.0

To try to find something or someone by looking carefully

is the idiom meaning an exhaustive, everywhere effort instead of ordinary seeking
to hunt
vsto look high and low
190 1.2

To look carefully for something or someone

is stronger, stressing an exhaustive everywhere effort rather than careful searching
to hunt down
vsto look high and low
148 3.9

Search for and find someone or something after a lot of effort

is about searching everywhere broadly rather than focusing on success
to seek out
vsto look high and low
122 3.0

Look for and find a person or thing, often with effort

is broader, meaning an exhaustive everywhere effort not only for a single target
to comb
vsto look high and low
66 3.3

To search a place very carefully to find something

is broader and means searching everywhere not just one place
to scour
vsto look high and low
57 5.1

To search a place carefully to find someone or something

is an idiom that stresses searching everywhere exhaustively
to dig deep
vsto look high and low
43 4.4

Search carefully to find hidden facts or details

is about searching everywhere broadly rather than only finding hidden facts
to leave no stone unturned
vsto look high and low
  • Informal
8 4.4

Try every possible way and search everywhere to achieve a goal

is the same exhaustive effort but in a different idiom
to trawl
vsto look high and low
4 4.6

To search carefully through a large area or collection

is the idiom for searching everywhere rather than only large collections
to cast about
vsto look high and low
3 7.2

To look around or think hard to find something you need

is broader and means searching everywhere thoroughly, not only anxious searching
to cast around
vsto look high and low
1 5.6

To look in a worried way for an idea or solution

is about exhausting all places rather than anxious searching for ideas
to ferret around
vsto look high and low
  • Informal
7.4

To search carefully through things in a small place like a bag or box

is wider, meaning an everywhere exhaustive effort not only confined rummage
to rout out
vsto look high and low
  • UK
5.5

To find something after a careful search

is focused on searching everywhere thoroughly rather than just eventual discovery
to rout up
vsto look high and low
  • UK
8.4

Find something after searching carefully

is the idiom for searching everywhere, not only for gaining a discovery

How Thorough

to look high and low
  • Informal
1 3.9
to comb
66 3.3
search
∞ 1.0
to look for
∞ 1.0
to look
∞ 1.0
to glance
299 1.5

Surface Forms

look high and low infinitive
looked high and low past
looked high and low past participle
looking high and low present participle
looks high and low third person singular

Morphology

look + high + and + low

The verb 'look' (to search) combined with the coordinated opposites 'high and low' (places both above and below) yields a straightforward compositional meaning of searching everywhere. This top/bottom pairing to indicate 'everywhere' is a common, cross-linguistic discourse pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will readily infer the idiom's meaning.

Etymology

Look high and low paints a clear picture of someone checking top shelves (high) and under beds or boxes (low) when they can't find something. That's why it means 'to search everywhere'.