Social climber

Social climber

A social climber is someone who seeks social prominence by obsequious behavior. Some define it as a parvenu, one who has suddenly risen to a higher economic status but has not gained social acceptance of others in that class. The accusation of being a social climber would be considered an insult by most, suggesting that the accused has a poor work ethic or is disloyal to his roots. See also nouveau riche.

An example of a social climber is the character Chris Wilton from Woody Allen's film Match Point.


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  • social climber — social climbers N COUNT (disapproval) You describe someone as a social climber when they try to get accepted into a higher social class by becoming friendly with people who belong to that class. That Rous was a snob and a social climber could… …   English dictionary

  • social climber — n someone who tries to get accepted into a higher social class by becoming friendly with people who belong to that class used in order to show disapproval …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • social climber — noun count someone who tries to move into a higher social class, especially by being friendly to people of that class. This word shows that you dislike people like this …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • social climber — ► NOUN derogatory ▪ a person who is anxious to gain a higher social status …   English terms dictionary

  • social climber — ☆ social climber n. a person who associates with socially prominent people in an attempt to gain higher social status …   English World dictionary

  • social climber — index philistine Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • social climber — noun someone seeking social prominence by obsequious behavior • Syn: ↑climber • Derivationally related forms: ↑climb (for: ↑climber) • Hypernyms: ↑upstart, ↑parvenu, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • social climber — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms social climber : singular social climber plural social climbers showing disapproval someone who tries to move into a higher social class, especially by being friendly to people of that class. This word shows… …   English dictionary

  • social climber — {n.} A person who tries to mix with rich or well known people and be accepted by them as friends and equals. * /People do not like Mrs. Brown very well; she is known as a social climber./ * /Social climbers are usually soon known and they are not …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • social climber — {n.} A person who tries to mix with rich or well known people and be accepted by them as friends and equals. * /People do not like Mrs. Brown very well; she is known as a social climber./ * /Social climbers are usually soon known and they are not …   Dictionary of American idioms

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