high and low
high and low (idiom)
/haɪ ænd loʊ/
The English idiom “high and low,” meaning an exhaustive search across all possible places, as in “I searched high and low for my keys,” is a significant linguistic construct with deep roots in the English language. This phrase employs the imagery of searching from the highest to the lowest points to convey thoroughness.
Meanings
- Everywhere; in all places, without missing any spot.
- In all situations or involving all kinds of people, from important figures to common folk.
Synonyms: everywhere; all over; far and wide; throughout.
Example Sentences
- The police searched high and low for the missing child in every corner of the city.
- The new policy was discussed high and low by everyone, from officials to ordinary people.
Origin and History
The idiom “high and low” originates from the combination of two Old English adjectives: “high,” derived from heah, meaning elevated or lofty, and “low,” from lah or related Germanic terms, meaning near the ground or humble. The phrase functions as a merism, a rhetorical device pairing opposites to express totality, akin to phrases like “day and night.” Its formation reflects a deliberate linguistic choice to capture the full spectrum of spatial or social dimensions. For example, one might say, “We looked high and low for the missing document, checking every shelf and drawer.” The idiom’s development is a natural evolution within English, rooted in the language’s capacity to pair contrasting terms for emphasis, solidifying its place as a concise expression of comprehensive effort.
Country of Origin
The idiom “high and low” definitively originated in England, emerging from the English language’s historical and literary traditions. The words “high” and “low” are foundational to Old English, and the phrase’s structure aligns with idiomatic patterns prevalent in Middle and Early Modern English. Its earliest documented uses appear in English texts, confirming England as its birthplace. The phrase’s clarity and versatility, as in “They searched high and low across the village for the lost child,” ensured its integration into broader English-speaking contexts, but its origin is unmistakably English.
Earliest Printed Record
The earliest printed record of the idiom “high and low” appears in William Shakespeare’s play The Merry Wives of Windsor, published in 1602. In Act 3, Scene 1, Sir Hugh Evans declares:
“I will make an end of my dinner; there’s pippins and seese to come. I have left my venison in the forest; I must go seek it high and low.”
This usage clearly denotes a thorough search, aligning with the idiom’s modern meaning. Shakespeare’s text marks the phrase’s first documented appearance in print, establishing a definitive milestone in its literary history. No earlier written record has been found, confirming this as the idiom’s earliest known use.
Origin Conclusion
The idiom “high and low” is a distinctly English expression, originating in England from the Old English roots of “high” and “low.” Its function as a merism underscores its role in conveying completeness, as illustrated by sentences like “She searched high and low for her heirloom necklace.” The phrase’s definitive origin in England is supported by its linguistic structure and historical use. Its earliest printed record in Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor (1602) anchors its place in English literature. This analysis confirms the idiom’s enduring significance as a vivid expression of thoroughness, rooted in the rich tapestry of the English language.
Variants
- up and down
- far and wide
- here, there, and everywhere
- all over the place
Similar Idioms
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