high sign

high sign
*the high sign
Fig. a prearranged signal for going ahead with something. (Often refers to a hand signal or some other visual signal. *Typically: get \high sign; give someone \high sign.) •

When I got the high sign, I pulled cautiously out into the roadway.

The train's engineer got the high sign and began to move the train out of the station.

* * *
{n. phr.}, {informal} A silent signal of recognition, greeting, or warning; an open or secret signal between two persons. - Used with "get" or "give". * /The Joneses saw us across the hotel dining room and gave us the high sign./ * /John could see that Grace wanted to tell him something, but he got her attention and frowned. She got the high sign and waited until the teacher had moved on before speaking./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • high sign — high′ sign n. a gesture, glance, or facial expression used as a surreptitious signal to warn, admonish, or inform • Etymology: 1900–05 …   From formal English to slang

  • high sign — ☆ high sign n. a signal, often a prearranged one, given secretly, as in warning …   English World dictionary

  • high sign — {n. phr.}, {informal} A silent signal of recognition, greeting, or warning; an open or secret signal between two persons. Used with get or give . * /The Joneses saw us across the hotel dining room and gave us the high sign./ * /John could see… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • high sign — noun a silent signal of warning or recognition she started to speak but he gave her the high sign • Hypernyms: ↑signal, ↑signaling, ↑sign * * * noun : signal; especially : a warning or inf …   Useful english dictionary

  • high sign — n. (esp. AE) signal 1) to give smb. the high sign 2) to get the high sign * * * [ˌhaɪ saɪn] (esp. AE) [ signal ] to give smb. the high sign to get the high sign …   Combinatory dictionary

  • high\ sign — n. phr. informal A silent signal of recognition, greeting, or warning; an open or secret signal between two persons. Used with get or give . The Joneses saw us across the hotel dining room and gave us the high sign. John could see that Grace… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • high sign — n. a hand signal meaning okay. (The tip of the index or middle finger touches the tip of the thumb, and the hand is raised into the air.) □ Tom got the high sign and began to open the door. □ Give me the high sign when you want me to start …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • high sign — noun Date: 1899 a gesture used as a signal (as of approval or warning) usually used in the phrase give the high sign …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • high sign — Synonyms and related words: Roman candle, SOS, aid to navigation, alarm, amber light, balefire, beacon, beacon fire, bell, bell buoy, blinker, blue peter, buoy, caution light, danger sign, early symptom, falling barometer, flare, fog bell, fog… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • high sign — (Roget s Thesaurus II) noun Informal. An expressive, meaningful bodily movement: gesticulation, gesture, indication, motion, sign, signal. See EXPRESS …   English dictionary for students

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