In the following question, out of the given four alternatives, select the option that best expresses the meaning of the idiom “high and mighty”.

Introduction / Context:
Idiomatic expressions like “high and mighty” are commonly used in spoken English, newspapers, and novels. They convey attitudes and character traits in a colourful way. In exams, you are often asked to match such idioms with their meanings. “High and mighty” is usually used in a negative sense to describe someone who behaves in an overly proud, superior, or arrogant manner.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Idiom: “high and mighty”.
- Options: an unreliable person, experts, hopeful, arrogant, very generous.
- We must pick the option that matches the accepted meaning in everyday English usage.

Concept / Approach:
The phrase “high and mighty” combines “high” (suggesting high status or position) with “mighty” (suggesting power or strength). Together, they describe people who think of themselves as important and superior to others, often looking down on those they consider below them. The idiom criticises such behaviour and focuses on arrogance and pride, not on generosity, expertise, or reliability.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall typical usage, such as “He became very high and mighty after his promotion.”
Step 2: Understand that in these contexts, the speaker is complaining about a person's proud and superior attitude.
Step 3: Compare each option: “an unreliable person” refers to trustworthiness, not pride.
Step 4: “Experts” and “hopeful” are neutral or positive descriptions and do not carry any idea of arrogance.
Step 5: “Very generous” clearly does not fit the negative tone of the idiom, while “arrogant” matches it exactly.

Verification / Alternative check:
Use the idiom in a sentence and substitute the word “arrogant”: “She acts so high and mighty these days” becomes “She acts so arrogant these days.” The sense is preserved. If you try substituting “hopeful” or “generous”, the sentence becomes meaningless: “She acts so hopeful these days” does not capture the idea of looking down on others. This substitution test confirms that “arrogant” is the closest equivalent.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- An unreliable person: describes someone you cannot depend on, which is not the focus of this idiom.
- Experts: refers to people with deep knowledge; experts can be humble or arrogant, so this is unrelated.
- Hopeful: suggests optimism, not a superior attitude.
- Very generous: indicates kindness and willingness to give, which is the opposite tone of the critical idiom “high and mighty”.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners assume “high and mighty” must always refer to people of high status such as leaders or VIPs and may confuse it with words like “elite” or “influential”. However, the main point of the idiom is not status itself but the arrogant behaviour that often comes with imagined or real superiority. Remember that ordinary people can also be described as “high and mighty” if they behave in an overbearing way.

Final Answer:
The idiom “high and mighty” means “arrogant” or “behaving in an overly proud, superior manner”.