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
1
To inflate a figure or claim well beyond what is realistic.
"The contractor highballed the repair estimate to scare us into a cheaper quote."
2
To move at speed, especially to leave in a hurry.
"As soon as the alarm sounded, they highballed it out of there."
noun
1
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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- highballs
- Past tense
- highballed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Antonyms
Related words
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.
