Taking the high road refers to how a person reacts to something negative from another person. For example, if a person calls you a rude name you might respond by calling them a rude name. However, if you refuse to be provoked then you are taking the high road. You might reply with something more direct or polite or by not responding at all. If you respond in an equally mean way then it might be said that you are "sinking to their level." If you do not respond rudely then you are "taking the high road." It refers to being more morally upright or taking the moral "high ground." If you add the word "way" to the front of this expression it may mean you are commending someone for taking the high road or that you are sarcastically commenting on the failure of someone to take the high road. It is a shortened way of saying something like, "Now, that was the way to take the high road." So if it is said to someone who reacted in a more polite way then it is a commendation. If it is said to someone who responded negatively, than it is a sarcastic way of reproving them.

When someone does what is morally right they could have done something bad.