Literal Meaning

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

Actual Meaning

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

Context

Used when discussing travel routes or planning road trips.

Examples

• "There's heavy traffic on the highway today, so we might be late for the meeting."
• "Driving down the highway, I saw a sign for a rest area coming up in 10 miles."
• "We took the highway to get to the seaside quickly for the weekend getaway."

Tips

• In British English, 'highway' can refer specifically to major roads, but it's more commonly used in a broader sense to describe fast routes.
• When someone mentions the highway, they might be emphasizing speed or efficiency in their journey.
• Context matters! If you're discussing travel plans, using 'highway' suggests thinking about the quickest or most direct route.