High Noon
Cooper's Western classic
High noon is exactly twelve o'clock midday, when the sun reaches its highest point.
The phrase emphasizes precision or dramatic timing: We agreed to meet at high noon.
It often evokes Western films and duels—a moment of confrontation or decisive action: The board meeting felt like high noon between the CEO and the shareholders.
Prearranged one-on-one combat
- gunfightArmed combat with firearms
- face-offDirect clash between opponents
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
quickdraw · shootout · showdown · reckoning · vengeance · retribution · justice · challenge
Mounted cattle herder
- sheriffCounty's chief officer
- outlawFugitive from justice
- saloonDrinking establishment, often frontier
- frontierEdge of settlement
gunslinger · marshal · lawman · revolver · corral · tombstone · posse · spurs
Point straight overhead
- meridianPole-to-pole great circle
- twelve o'clockNoon or midnight
- lunchtimeNoon eating period
- midday sunSolar apex overhead
sundial · siesta · prayer time
Utmost height attained
- culminationHighest or final point
- decisive momentPivotal juncture determining outcome
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
- crisis pointDecisive turning moment
moment of truth · apex · crescendo · final hour · countdown · do-or-die · zero hour · point of no return
Stretched or strained state
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- ticking clockClock making sound
waiting · nerves · apprehension · foreboding · inevitability · countdown · sweat · held breath
duel
Prearranged one-on-one combat
- gunfightArmed combat with firearms
- face-offDirect clash between opponents
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
standoff · quickdraw · shootout · showdown · reckoning · vengeance · retribution · justice · challenge · draw
cowboy
Mounted cattle herder
- sheriffCounty's chief officer
- outlawFugitive from justice
- saloonDrinking establishment, often frontier
frontier · gunslinger · marshal · lawman · revolver · corral · tombstone · posse · spurs · holster
zenith
Point straight overhead
- meridianPole-to-pole great circle
- twelve o'clockNoon or midnight
- lunchtimeNoon eating period
midday sun · sundial · siesta · prayer time
peak
Utmost height attained
- culminationHighest or final point
- decisive momentPivotal juncture determining outcome
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
crisis point · moment of truth · apex · crescendo · final hour · countdown · do-or-die · zero hour · point of no return
tension
Stretched or strained state
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
ticking clock · waiting · nerves · apprehension · foreboding · inevitability · countdown · sweat · held breath
- Westernscowboys, western, outlaws, sheriffs, western novels
- Wild Westcowboy, howdy, sheriff, giddyup, lawmen
- Classic FilmsCasablanca, Citizen Kane, Gone with the Wind, Some Like It Hot, Vertigo
- 1952 eventsMad magazine, Rocky Marciano, Sugar Ray Robinson
- quick drawfast draw, gunslinger, gunfighter, holster, six-shooter
- RTDsRTD, canned cocktail, hard seltzer, spiked seltzer, malt beverage
High Noonmidnight
Twelve o'clock at night
dead of night · witching hour · dusk · twilight · dawn
High Noonavoidance
Deliberate keeping away
retreat · anticlimax · postponement · evasion · peaceful resolution
high, noon, highly, higher, highest, heighten, afternoon, highs, highbrow