at the height of (something)

At the pinnacle or maximum degree of. Disco was at the height of its popularity in the 1970s. I heard he bought this apartment for $4 million at the height of the real estate boom. At the height of the conflict, our surgeons were primarily concerned with getting wounded soldiers patched up long enough to receive more specialized treatment down the line.

dizzy heights

1. An impressive level of success. "Dizzying heights" is a more common version of the phrase. Primarily heard in UK. Your company will never reach such dizzy heights if you don't devote your full attention to it. Reaching, and often surpassing, the dizzy heights of her first novel, this is a remarkable final offering from the accomplished author. No one expected you to take this enterprise to the dizzy heights of your father, but how could you completely destroy it?

2. A high or extreme degree of something. Primarily heard in UK. Why are our profits now so much lower than the dizzy heights they reached last month? Ah, he's going through a typical sophomore slump. Come on, you can't expect every player to recreate the dizzy heights of their Rookie of the Year campaign. The company is doomed if our sales this quarter don't hit dizzy heights.

dizzying heights

1. An impressive level of success. Your company will never reach such dizzying heights if you don't devote your full attention to it. Reaching, and often surpassing, the dizzying heights of her first novel, this is a remarkable final offering from the accomplished author. No one expected you to take this enterprise to the dizzying heights of your father, but how could you completely destroy it?

2. A high or extreme degree of something. Why are our profits now so much lower than the dizzying heights they reached last month? Ah, he's going through a typical sophomore slump. Come on, you can't expect every player to recreate the dizzying heights of their Rookie of the Year campaign. The company is doomed if our sales this quarter don't hit dizzying heights.

draw (oneself) up to (one's) full height

To stand up straight, often to project confidence or prestige. People would be more apt to take you seriously if you drew yourself up to your full height instead of hunching over all the time. Honey, draw yourself up to full height so the nurse can measure you. Even though my heart was pounding, I drew myself up to full height and strode across the stage to the podium.

have a head for (something)

1. To have the mental ability to do something well. I've always been good at math—I guess I just have a head for numbers. OK, how can we rig up this painting? I just don't have a head for creative mechanical solutions. I've always excelled in literature classes, so I was as surprised as anyone to discover I had a head for Chemistry!

2. To have the ability to withstand or endure something. I never had a head for flying before, but I'm getting used to it now that I have to travel so much for work. Jed likes to climb rock walls without a rope, so you can definitely say he has a head for heights. I can't believe you have a head for all this gross medical stuff. Just thinking about blood makes me want to throw up!

have a head for heights

To be comfortable in very high places; to not be afraid of heights. Jed likes to climb rock walls without a rope, so you can definitely say he has a head for heights. I'll go on the Ferris wheel with you. I have a head for heights—they really don't bother me. Nah, Lisa won't want the window seat on the plane—that poor girl doesn't have a head for heights.

rise to (one's) full height

To stand up straight, often to project confidence or prestige. People would be more apt to take you seriously if you rose to your full height instead of hunching over all the time.

the height of (something)

The pinnacle of something; the highest level of something. With three number one hits just this year, the artist is at the height of his success. What the banks did to precipitate the financial crisis was the height of greed.

up a height

Very upset or stressed. Commonly said in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Yah, me mam's up a height about it, but she might feel better if you bring her some kets.

at the height of something

Fig. at the most intense or forceful aspect of something. At the height of his career, Tom was known around the world. At the height of the party, there were 50 people present.

dizzy heights

BRITISH or

dizzying heights

COMMON

1. You use dizzy heights or dizzying heights to talk about a very high level of success. She had first known such dizzy heights in the 1960's when she became one of the top exponents of black American music. She was a poor girl propelled to the dizzying heights of fame by a group of powerful agents. Note: This expression is sometimes used ironically to say that someone has not achieved very much at all. After three and a half years, I had reached the dizzy heights of assistant account handler.

2. You use dizzy heights or dizzying heights to talk about a very high amount or level of something. The Dow Jones has scaled the dizzy heights to reach 10,000. The cost of oil imports reached dizzying heights before falling back and rising again in 1990. Note: This expression is sometimes used ironically to say that something is not at a very high level. The meat content of the pie can soar to the dizzy heights of 25 per cent.

draw yourself up/rise to your full ˈheight

stand straight and tall in order to show your determination or high status: When the sales assistant said he couldn’t help her, she drew herself up to her full height and demanded to see the manager.

See also: draw, full, height, rise, to, up

have a (good) head for ˈheights

be able to stand on a high place without feeling ill or afraid: I won’t go up the church tower with you. I’ve no head for heights.