Look high and low 👀⬆️⬇️

Meaning

To search for something everywhere, very thoroughly.

Origin

Imagine a frantic search for a lost treasure, or perhaps a fleeing outlaw. You'd have to scan every dusty shelf way up high, then get down on your hands and knees to peer under the lowest floorboards. This phrase paints a vivid picture of that exhaustive, top-to-bottom investigation. It likely emerged in the 17th century, capturing the complete effort of searching every conceivable spot, from the loftiest heights to the deepest nooks, ensuring nothing could possibly be missed in the quest.

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Look high and low represented with emoji👀⬆️⬇️

This playful arrangement of eye and directional arrows functions as a delightful prompt, inviting us to consider the familiar phrase "look high and low." It charmingly nudges us to appreciate the thoroughness of a dedicated search, reminding us that sometimes, the most obvious things are found only after a truly exhaustive sweep.

Examples

  • I looked high and low for my car keys this morning, but they were in my pocket the whole time.
  • We've looked high and low for the perfect vacation spot, trying to find somewhere with both mountains and the beach.
  • The treasure hunters looked high and low for the buried pirate chest, checking behind every grumpy-looking gnome.
  • After the fairy misplaced her left slipper, she looked high and low under the toadstools and among the dewdrop chandeliers.

Frequently asked questions

Is 'look high and low' a fixed idiom with no variation?

While 'look high and low' is the most common form, variations like 'search high and low' are also understood to mean the same thing. The core idea is the comprehensive nature of the search, regardless of the exact verb used.

What's the opposite of 'look high and low'?

The opposite of 'looking high and low' would be to search superficially or only in one specific, obvious place. Phrases like 'glance over' or 'give it a cursory look' capture this lack of thoroughness.

Can 'look high and low' be used figuratively?

Yes, 'look high and low' is frequently used figuratively to describe an exhaustive search for information or a person, not just a physical object. The phrase emphasizes the extreme effort and scope of the inquiry, regardless of whether it involves actual physical searching.

Does 'look high and low' imply a specific order of searching?

No, 'look high and low' does not imply a specific order; it simply conveys the completeness of the search. It suggests that all possible places, from elevated to ground-level spots, have been considered, without dictating the sequence.

Similar to "look high and low"

Leave no stone unturned
Both phrases champion exhaustive searching, but 'leave no stone unturned' carries a more pragmatic, even legalistic, undertone, suggesting a meticulous process often employed in investigations or problem-solving, while 'look high and low' feels more like a desperate, perhaps slightly frantic, personal search
Scour the place
Both phrases describe a thorough search, but 'scour the place' implies a more aggressive, almost violent, clearing out and examining of a specific location, as if scrubbing it clean of the hidden object, whereas 'look high and low' paints a broader, more scattered picture of where one might search
Turn inside out
Both idioms convey the idea of seeking something with extreme diligence, but 'turn inside out' focuses on the act of dismantling or thoroughly examining the contents of a specific place or object, implying a destructive thoroughness rather than the more expansive spatial search of 'look high and low'

Opposite of "look high and low"

Take it as it comes
This argues for a passive acceptance of fate rather than an active, determined search, making the tension interesting because it questions the very necessity of hunting for something when the universe might already have a plan
Trust your gut
This suggests relying on intuition and instinct, proposing that the answer will reveal itself without the need for laborious searching, which creates a fascinating contrast by valorizing a swift, internal knowing over the external, exhaustive effort of 'look high and low'
Know when to quit
This advocates for recognizing futility and ceasing the search, directly opposing the relentless persistence in 'look high and low' by suggesting that knowing when to stop is a wisdom in itself, creating a dialogue between diligent pursuit and sensible surrender

Related to "look high and low"

Search party
This phrase shares the core idea of searching for something lost, but it shifts the focus from an individual's effort to a collaborative, organized group undertaking, making it a neighbor to 'look high and low' by highlighting the communal aspect of a determined search
Needle in a haystack
This captures the sheer difficulty and overwhelming nature of a search, a common companion to the feeling evoked by 'look high and low' when the object is particularly elusive
On the hunt
This conveys an active, eager pursuit, similar to the energy of 'look high and low', but it often carries a more predatory or excited connotation, like tracking prey or pursuing a specific goal with focused anticipation
Leave no margin for error
This phrase resonates with the thoroughness implied by 'look high and low', as both speak to an absolute refusal to overlook any detail, but it focuses more on the precision and lack of acceptable mistakes in a plan or execution rather than the physical act of searching