get high

Origin

The concept of 'getting high' to describe drug-induced euphoria isn't ancient, but rather a product of the 20th century. While the word 'high' has long been associated with elevated states, both physical and emotional, its specific application to intoxication gained widespread currency during the mid-20th century, particularly with the rise of recreational drug use. The imagery suggests a feeling of being lifted above normal reality, soaring past everyday worries and perceptions. This vivid metaphor captured the desired effect, becoming a ubiquitous term in the counterculture movements and popular music of the 1960s and beyond, solidifying its place in the modern lexicon as the go-to phrase for altered consciousness.