verb

highball

HEYE-bahl

Highball (verb) means to inflate a figure or claim well beyond what is realistic. Example: “The contractor highballed the repair estimate to scare us into a cheaper quote.”

verb

To inflate a figure or claim well beyond what is realistic.

"The contractor highballed the repair estimate to scare us into a cheaper quote."

To move at speed, especially to leave in a hurry.

"As soon as the alarm sounded, they highballed it out of there."

noun

A tall mixed drink, typically spirits with a larger amount of a non-alcoholic mixer, served over ice.

"He ordered a whiskey highball to cool off."

How to use highball

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDepending on context: to wildly overstate a number, to move fast, or a tall mixed drink over ice.

Common pairings

highball estimate highball glass whiskey highball

Word forms

highballed past tense, highballs singular

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The contractor _____ the repair estimate to scare us into a cheaper quote.

Etymology

From railroad signalling, where a raised ("high") ball-shaped signal meant "go ahead at full speed" — the sense later carried over to exaggerated estimates and to the tall drink named for its glass.

Frequently asked questions

What does “highball” mean?

The word “highball” means to inflate a figure or claim well beyond what is realistic. In plain terms, depending on context: to wildly overstate a number, to move fast, or a tall mixed drink over ice.

How do you pronounce “highball”?

“Highball” is pronounced HEYE-bahl (/ˈhaɪˌbɑl/ in IPA).

How do you use “highball” in a sentence?

Here is “highball” used in a sentence: “The contractor highballed the repair estimate to scare us into a cheaper quote.”

What part of speech is “highball”?

Depending on how it is used, “highball” can be a verb and a noun.

How many meanings does “highball” have?

“Highball” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to inflate a figure or claim well beyond what is realistic.