i högsta hugg

Swedish

Etymology

i (“in”) +‎ högsta (“highest”) +‎ hugg (“strike/slash”)

Prepositional phrase

i högsta hugg

1. held (high) in front of oneself (as if ready to strike)

   Bonden kom springande med högaffeln i högsta hugg

   The farmer came running, pitchfork in hand [with the pitchfork in highest strike/slash]

2. (figuratively) at the ready

   Utanför domstolsbyggnaden väntade journalister med kamerorna i högsta hugg

   Outside the courthouse, journalists were waiting with [the/their] cameras at the ready

References

• hugg in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• hugg in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)