high on the totem pole

Questions

What does high on the totem pole mean?

Accorded relatively high importance.

Where does high on the totem pole come from?

Derived from totem poles, traditional sculptures of wood made by American Indians, usually with several figures carved one above the other. The vertical order was mistakenly perceived by the non-Indians to correspond with the figures' rank of importance.

How to pronounce high on the totem pole

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “high on the totem pole”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “high on the totem pole”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “high on the totem pole” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.