de haut en bas

adv. in a condescending or superior manner.
Etymology: F, = from above to below

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\\dəōtäⁿbä\ adverb (or adjective)

Etymology: French, literally, from top to bottom

: with a superior or condescending air

the landlady looked at him de haut en bas — D.H.Lawrence

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/deuh oh tahonn bah"/, French.

1. from top to bottom; from head to foot.

2. in a haughty, disdainful manner; condescendingly.

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de haut en bas /də ō tã bä/

1. Downwards, or from top to bottom (literary)

2. With an air of superiority, contemptuously

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Main Entry: ↑haut

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de haut en bas «duh _OH tahn BAH», French.

1. a) from top to bottom. b) from head to foot.

2. superciliously; disdainfully: »

The patterns and values of this prescientific agricultural society…have always been seen de haut en bas (Sunday Times).

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[də ˌōt än 'bä; də ˌō tän 'bä]

adv. & adj. in a condescending or superior manner

[as adv.] he never addressed his students de haut en bas | [as adj.] he has a certain de haut en bas style

Origin:

late 17th cent.: French, literally ‘from above to below’

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de haut en bas

see de II.