IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishhave friends in high places
Meaning: To know influential people who can help one.
Example: “He got the permit in a week; he must have friends in high places.”
Origin: Earlier English spoke of having "a friend at court"; the phrase appears around 1365 in a Middle English translation of the Roman de la Rose. The later wording pictures influence simply as height.
Equivalents in other languages
Korean: 발이 넓다 (bari neopda) Literally: To have wide feet
French: Avoir le bras long Literally: To have a long arm
More English idioms
- have a heart of gold To be very kind and generous.
- be full of beans To be lively and full of energy.
- get back on one's feet To recover after an illness or a setback.
- throw the baby out with the bathwater To discard something valuable while getting rid of what is unwanted.
- the pot calling the kettle black Said when someone criticizes another person for a fault they have themselves.
- keep one's cards close to one's chest To keep one's plans or intentions secret.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Du bist ein Goldstück You're a real gem — priceless, irreplaceable, and deeply appreciated.
- Du hast ein Händchen dafür You have a real knack — a natural gift that makes difficult things look easy.
- Du hast Köpfchen You're sharp and clever — you use your brain well.
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