nose-high
/ˌnəʊzˈhʌɪ/adjective
1Rising or reaching as high as a person's nose.
- Formerly common with reference to the flames of a fire..
2 Informal. Haughty, disdainful.
3 Aeronautics and Astronautics = nose-up.
Origin
Mid 16th century; earliest use found in Thomas Drant (c1540–1578), poet and Church of England clergyman. From nose + high.