(as) hot as highway blacktop

Extremely hot in temperature. Geez, it's hot as highway blacktop today—we really need to stay in the shade. I hate working in the theme park during the summer because the costumes they make us wear get as hot as highway blacktop. It's hot as highway blacktop in here! Why don't you have the air conditioner on?

(as) plain as Dunstable highway

Straightforward and easy to understand. The straight road of Watling Street connects the town of Dunstable, in Bedfordshire, to London. Primarily heard in UK. Why can't you understand I'm saying? I told you as plain as Dunstable highway what I meant! These directions are plain as Dunstable highway, so you shouldn't have any questions. A: "I'm going to make this plain as Dunstable highway. You have to drop the package off by 5 PM sharp so that it will get delivered tomorrow—and it must get delivered tomorrow. Got it?" B: "Yes, sir."

be (as) plain as Dunstable highway

To be straightforward and easy to understand. The straight road of Watling Street connects the town of Dunstable, in Bedfordshire, to London. Primarily heard in UK. Why can't you understand what I'm trying to tell you? It's as plain as Dunstable highway what I meant! These directions are plain as Dunstable highway, so you shouldn't have any questions. The boss told me I have to drop the package off by 5 PM sharp because it must get delivered tomorrow—that part was plain as Dunstable highway.

electronic superhighway

dated The Internet. I grew up in the '90s when the so-called electronic superhighway was drastically changing the world. The AOL dial-up noise was basically the soundtrack to that time in history. A: "Daddy, what's the 'electronic superhighway'?" B: "Wow, there's something I haven't heard in a long time! It was a nickname for the Internet, once upon a time." A: "Do you remember the early days of the electronic superhighway?" B: "Unfortunately, I do—especially the devastating slamming-door noise of my crush signing off instant messenger."

highway robbery

A situation in which one is charged an exorbitant price. I need to find another mechanic because this bill is just highway robbery! I can't believe how much he charged for a simple repair. They got me for an extra $300 on the repair job, knowing that I had no choice but to pay up. It's highway robbery, I tell you! Well, that bill is just highway robbery! We're clearly in the wrong business!

See also: highway, robbery

highway to hell

A plan, progression, or course of action that will lead to the worst possible outcome. The senator criticized the economic recovery plan as a highway to hell for the country. I was on a highway to hell, all right, ruining my life with booze and drugs. That kid's never had stable home—he's been on a highway to hell his whole life.

highways and byways

Both major and minor or lesser-traveled roads. (Often used figuratively to describe paths taken in life.) I'm taking the summer to travel across the Midwest, driving through highways and byways to find all sorts of unique places. By highways and byways, he ended up making a life for himself in a small village in India. Take me on the highways and byways—I want to see all that this town has to offer!

information superhighway

dated The Internet. I grew up in the '90s when the so-called information superhighway was drastically changing the world. The AOL dial-up noise was basically the soundtrack to that time in history. A: "Daddy, what's the 'information superhighway'?" B: "Wow, there's something I haven't heard in a long time! It was a nickname for the Internet, once upon a time." A: "Do you remember the early days of the information superhighway?" B: "Unfortunately, I do—especially the devastating slamming-door noise of my crush signing off instant messenger."

my way or the highway

If you do not do things the way I want or require, then you can just leave or not participate. I'm here to create the best musicians in the world, so in this room, it's my way or the highway!

highway robbery

outrageous overpricing; a bill that is much higher than normally acceptable but must be paid. (As if one had been accosted and robbed on the open road or in broad daylight.) Four thousand dollars! That's highway robbery for one piece of furniture! I won't pay it! It's highway robbery!

See also: highway, robbery

highways and byways

1. major and minor roads. The city council voted to plant new trees along all the highways and byways of the town.

2. Cliché routes and pathways, both major and minor. I hope I meet you again some day on life's highways and byways.

highway robbery

The exaction of an exorbitantly high price or fee. For example, You paid ten dollars for that meat? That's highway robbery. This term, used figuratively since the late 1800s, alludes to literal robbery of travelers on or near a public road.

See also: highway, robbery

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

highway robbery

BRITISH, AMERICAN or

daylight robbery

BRITISH

You use highway robbery or daylight robbery to describe a situation in which you are charged far too much money for something. They're charging ten bucks for the comics, which sounds like highway robbery to us. You have to pay thousands of dollars for the service. It's daylight robbery!

See also: highway, robbery

ˌhighways and ˈbyways

(on/along) all the roads, large and small, of a country, an area, etc: She travelled the highways and byways of Scotland collecting folk songs and local traditions.

A byway is a small road.

ˌmy way or the ˈhighway

(American English, informal) used to say that somebody else has either to agree with your opinion or to leave: Right now there is only one rule here. It’s my way or the highway.

highway robbery

So expensive that it is considered extortion. This expression simply transfers the literal meaning—armed robbery of travelers on an open road—to the more or less legitimate charging of exorbitant prices. As J. B. Priestley put it in It’s An Old Country (1967), “Nothing on the wine list under two-pound-ten. Highway robbery by candlelight.”

See also: highway, robbery

as hot as highway blacktop

Scorching. A typical summer day in the Deep South.