Idiom
come hell or high water
Meanings
No matter what happens; regardless of difficulties or obstacles.
Definition
No matter what happens or how difficult things become.
“Come hell or high water” means you are determined to do something despite any problems, dangers, or obstacles. It emphasizes commitment and perseverance when conditions are tough. People often use it to promise they will arrive, finish a task, or keep a plan even if circumstances are bad.
Examples
- I’ll be at your graduation, come hell or high water.
- She said she would finish the project on time, come hell or high water.
- We’re moving out this weekend, come hell or high water.
- He promised to run the marathon, come hell or high water.
More at C1 level
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- close but no cigar Used to say someone almost succeeded but did not quite achieve the goal.
- brass monkeys “Brass monkeys” is used in the expression “cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey,” mea…
- get down to brass tacks To get down to brass tacks means to start discussing the most important practical details of someth…
- not cricket Used to say that something is unfair or unacceptable.
More idiom (adverbial phrase)s
- in a nutshell Used to give a brief, clear summary of something.
- bang to rights Caught clearly doing something wrong, with undeniable proof.
- by hook or by crook By hook or by crook means using any possible method to achieve something, whether fair or not.
- out of left field If something comes out of left field, it is very surprising and unexpected.
- once in a blue moon If something happens once in a blue moon, it happens very rarely.