What is "my way or the highway"

phr. (context chiefly US idiomatic English) An expression suggesting an ultimatum which indicates the listener(s) will either conform to the desires or teachings of the speaker or else be excluded.

My Way or the Highway is the first major studio album released by blues guitarist Guitar Shorty (David Kearney), even though he had been in the business since the 1950s. The album is credited to "Guitar Shorty & The Otis Grand Blues Band"; it was at the behest and producing of Grand that Shorty made the record.

It was first released in 1991 on CD by the label JSP and was subsequently re-released in 1999 and 2005. Also, the tracks "Red Hot Mama" and "No Educated Woman" would later appear on Shorty's compilation album, " The Best of Guitar Shorty", in 2006.

My way or the highway is a predominantly American idiom that dates back to the 1970s. It suggests an ultimatum like "take it or leave it" which indicates that the listener(s) (who are typically not in a position to challenge the options, e.g. employees or those lacking money) must totally accept the speaker's decision or suffer negative consequences such as being fired, asked to leave, or receive nothing. It may sometimes be seen with other pronouns, for example, her way or the highway.

The idiom has been associated with narcissism and micromanagement.

My Way or the Highway may refer to:

• My way or the highway, a predominantly American idiom
• "My Way or the Highway" (Scrubs), an episode of the television sitcom Scrubs
• My Way or the Highway (album), a 1991 album by blues guitarist Guitar Shorty