high water

• Terme désignant le niveau le plus élevé atteint par une étendue d'eau, par exemple lors d'une marée ou d'une inondation ; il est aussi utilisé au sens figuré pour évoquer un sommet ou un point critique dans une situation.

A term referring to the highest level reached by a body of water, such as during a tide or flood; also used figuratively to describe a peak or critical point in a situation.

1. Tidal peakB1formal

   The highest level reached by the sea or a river during a tide or flood.

   pleine mer

   • The boats were stranded after high water receded.
   • High water occurs twice a day in coastal areas.
   • They waited for high water to launch the ship.

2. Peak or critical pointB2informal

   A figurative expression for the highest or most critical point of a situation.

   point culminant

   • The company reached high water in sales last quarter.
   • His career hit high water after winning the award.
   • The crisis reached high water when negotiations broke down.