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Glite Dictionary
uno ab alto

uno ab alto

9.9
A decision or order from a higher authority
  • idiom
  • Formal
translation icon : uno ab alto
  • The leader invoked uno ab alto to justify the sudden policy change.

Examples

  • In court, the lawyer referred to uno ab alto in his closing argument.

  • Her justification seemed to rely on uno ab alto rather than logical reasoning.

  • The decree was issued by uno ab alto.

  • We must respect the decisions made uno ab alto.

  • The leader invoked uno ab alto to justify the sudden policy change.

  • In court, the lawyer referred to uno ab alto in his closing argument.

  • We must respect the decisions made uno ab alto.

Synonyms

in the name of
vsuno ab alto
  • Formal
195 3.7

With someone's permission or official authority to act for them

points to authority coming directly from a higher power rather than invoked sanction
ex cathedra
vsuno ab alto
  • Formal
1 9.9

In a way that shows the full official authority of a leader, for example the Pope

refers to authority or decisions coming from a higher power rather than office power
Man Upstairs
vsuno ab alto
  • Informal
1 8.6

A casual name for God used when people mean someone who watches over them

names authority or decisions from above in formal or classical terms
ex officio
vsuno ab alto
  • Formal
8.4

Because someone has an official job or position, they are a member without being chosen again

describes authority originating from a higher power, not from holding an office

Surface Forms

uno ab alto main

Morphology

Uno + ab + alto

The phrase is directly built from 'uno' (one) + 'ab' (from) + 'alto' (high), so the sense 'one from on high' or an authority/decision coming from above is compositionally derivable. The 'from above' authority metaphor is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the three constituents would readily infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Uno ab alto may come from the Latin words uno ('one'), ab ('from') and alto ('high'), giving the image of someone speaking from a high place like a ruler or a god. That's why it now means a decision or authority coming 'from on high'.