höchste Eisenbahn

== German == === Etymology === Literally, “highest train”. Apparently from a malapropism used in a 1847 theater play by Adolf Glassbrenner. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈhøːçstə ˈaɪ̯zn̩ˌbaːn/ === Noun === höchste Eisenbahn f (definite nominative die höchste Eisenbahn, genitive höchster Eisenbahn, definite genitive der höchsten Eisenbahn, no plural) (colloquial) high time (state of extreme urgency after having delayed something important for almost too long) [with (optionally) für (+ accusative) or dass (+ clause) or zu (+ infinitive)] Synonym: höchste Zeit ==== Derived terms ==== allerhöchste Eisenbahn === Further reading === “höchste Eisenbahn” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache