have nose in the air

have (one's) nose in the air

To have a haughty, condescending, or disdainful manner. No one in the neighborhood cares for the Smiths. It always seems like they have their noses in the air whenever they're socializing with us. You're not going to make many friends at your new school having your nose in the air like that. When the CEO is in the office, he always has his nose in the air, as if he's better than all us peons who do the actual work in the company.

See also: air, have, nose

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

have one's nose in the air

Fig. to be conceited or aloof. Mary always seems to have her nose in the air. I wonder if she knows that she has her nose in the air.

See also: air, have, nose

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.