higher than a cat's back

1. Very expensive. I'm sorry, but I refuse to spend my hard-earned money on clothes that are higher than a cat's back. They're just clothes—secondhand ones do me just fine. I'm living paycheck to paycheck as it is, so I can't afford a new car—let alone one that's higher than a cat's back! Our goal is to make a cutting-edge smartphone that isn't higher than a cat's back and is thus accessible to more people.

2. dated slang Drunk. In my day, it was gauche for a man to get higher than a cat's back at the bar. Now, that's just a Saturday night for most people. Help him get home, will ya? He started drinking whiskey, and now he's higher than a cat's back. You were higher than a cat's back last night, stumbling in here reeking of alcohol!