趾高气扬

趾高氣揚
zhǐgāoqìyáng
high and mighty (idiom); arrogant

CEDICT

  1. (derogatory) to be on one's high horse; to be very self-righteous; to be arrogant
  2. to be on one's high horse; to be very self-righteous; to be arrogant

Wiktionary

走路脚抬得很高，十分神气。语本《左传．桓公十三年》：「莫敖必败。举趾高，心不固矣。」后形容骄傲自满、得意忘形的样子。《花月痕．第一二回》：「他趾高气扬，全不照管，便栽了一交。」《二十年目睹之怪现状．第四四回》：「正说话时，便来了两个人，都是趾高气扬的。」也作「足高气扬」。

重編國語辭典

Entry Composition

1 趾 zhǐ toe
2 高 gāo
  1. high
  2. tall
  3. above average
  4. loud
  5. your (honorific)
3 气 qì
  1. gas; air
  2. smell
  3. weather
  4. to make angry; to annoy; to get angry
  5. vital energy; qi
=4 扬 yáng
  1. to raise
  2. to hoist
  3. the action of tossing or winnowing
  4. scattering (in the wind)
  5. to flutter
  6. to propagate
=4 扬 yáng variant of 扬 yáng

Related entries

足高气强 zúgāoqìjiàng high and mighty (idiom); arrogant
足高气扬 zúgāoqìyáng high and mighty (idiom); arrogant