Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (drugs) the euphoric, pleasurable state induced by taking drugs; the emotional, undrugged equivalent; cite 1971 ref. to alcohol.

1944		Samuel Allentuck in LaGuardia Committee Report on Marihuana 🌐 Smoking, increasing the number of cigarettes usually increased the sensation described as ‘high,’ but here also there was no uniformity in individuals or groups.
1955		E. Hunter Blackboard Jungle 196: You dig a high on smoke, boy?
1961		T. Taylor Baron’s Court All Change (2011) 64: Dusty’s high was in a better state than mine so he was raving about how great the rain was [...] He wanted me to be with him [...] so as to help each other’s highness.
1961		C. Cooper Jr Weed (1998) 124: His highness leveled off.
1964		Larner & Tefferteller Addict in the Street (1966) 81: With the opium the high on the needle was something else. Tremendous – it was too much!
1971		R.D. Pharr S.R.O. (1998) 243: [ of ‘sneaky pete’ wine] ‘This here junky woman got me so shook up I done already lost my high’.
1972		Nova Apr. 81: Sniffing furniture polish in plastic bags for their only available cheap ‘high’.
1980		E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 177: Cain’t hardly cool it. Jus’ be stumblin’, walkin’ up and down d’ street, just staggerin’. Cain’t hold d’ high.
1990		R. Campbell Sweet La-La Land (1999) 38: Addicted to the high of surviving from day to day.
2000		Hip-Hop Connection Jan. 78: It’s been a glittering career of weed-fuelled highs for Dr Dre.
2008		G. Pelecanos Way Home (2009) 54: The scent of marijuana was often in the air [and] the high was evident in the boys’ eyes.
2015		Al-Jazeera (UK) 20 Feb. 🌐 ‘I do not like the high,’ Roman, a lanky 21-year-old Muscovite [...] told Al Jazeera.
2015		P. Beatty Sellout (2016) 20: Here the lawyers argue, the judges question, and I get to simply kick back and enjoy my high.
2018		I. Welsh Dead Man’s Trousers 86: The downer? [...] You dinnae get the lows, but ye sure as fuck miss the euphoria ay the highs.
2020		D. Winslow ‘Sunset’ in Broken 177: Booze wasn’t a big enough high.

2. (US) a drink, a drug or anything that induces an intoxicated state.

1962		H. Simmons Man Walking On Eggshells 156: Whisky was a lame high that didn’t come nowhere close to tea.
1969		‘Iceberg Slim’ Pimp 221: Cocaine sure chills you. I guess you picked the right high.
1975		J. Carr Bad (1995) 73: We spent all our time sitting out behind the textile factory dipping rags and sniffing up some high.
1991		L. Bing Do or Die (1992) xv: A new, deadly high that was being sold in the inner city.
2002		J. Ridley Conversation with the Mann 26: Always making sure I had enough money to go out and buy my father a high.

3. on the lines of a drunk, a person when intoxicated by drugs.

1972

D. Jenkins Semi-Tough 102: She was a happy drunk and never aggressive. She was a talkative, funny high, but she probably preferred booze to dope.

4. a general feeling of well-being; esp. in phr. on a high, feeling very happy and positive.

1970		in N.Y. Post 1 July 30: And Bob would tell them what a high it gave him to see this gook step on a mine he’d put out the night before [HDAS].
1985		‘Thommo’ Dict. Aus. Swearing & Sex Sayings 90: ON A HIGH — A feeling of elation.
1992		V. Headley Yardie 38: Judging by his eyes, he was still on a high.
1999		K. Sampson Powder 67: Radio was on a high. You could easily see the Grams fitting in.
2024		J. Meades Empty Wigs (t/s) 293: Adulation is a gas. A total high.

5. (US) in pl., high-topped sneakers or trainers.

1997

(con. 1970s) G. Pelecanos King Suckerman (1998) 126: Once-black highs now gone gray.

6. see highball n.¹