Literal Meaning

A main road, especially one that connects major towns or cities.

Actual Meaning

Major high-speed road - always 'the 405' not 'I-405'

Context

Used when discussing travel routes or planning road trips.

Examples

• "We're going to take the highway to get to the beach faster."
• "There's a shortcut off the highway that can save us some time."
• "You should avoid the highway during rush hour; it gets really crowded."

Tips

• Listen for context clues; if someone mentions 'taking the highway,' they may be talking about a long-distance trip, not just any road.
• Be aware that people may also use this term to indicate a faster route, even if it isn’t the literal highway.
• In the South, referring to 'the highway' usually means the main interstate road, especially when discussing travel plans.