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Meantolearn Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary

*High time

Hi,

It's high time = It's about time

Does anyone know why 'high' is so used. Is the phrase associated with high or low??

Thanks,
  

Top answer

It does not mean 'about time' -- it means the last appropriate time, verging on lateness. One source's indication of its origin is Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors : ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE: There's none but witches do inhabit here; And therefore 'tis high time that I were hence. This is at least an early use.

— Mister Micawber

  • It does not mean 'about time' -- it means the last appropriate time, verging on lateness.
  • One source's indication of its origin is Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors : ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE: There's none but witches do inhabit here; And therefore 'tis high time that I were hence.
  • This is at least an early use.
  • I suppose the meaning may be related to that for 'high tea'-- over to you, BrE speakers!
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1 Answers
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It does not mean 'about time' -- it means the last appropriate time, verging on lateness.

One source's indication of its origin is Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors:

ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE:
There's none but witches do inhabit here;
And therefore 'tis high time that I were hence.

This is at least an early use. I suppose the meaning may be related to th
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