fat cat
Definition
Noun: 1. A wealthy and privileged person, especially one who is a powerful executive, financier, or political donor: The term "fat cat" is a critical or disapproving label for a person who has become very rich and powerful, often implying they have gained their wealth through connections, privilege, or exploitation rather than hard work, and that they use their money to influence politics or maintain their status.
Usage
The term is used as a countable noun. It is informal and carries a strong negative connotation, suggesting greed, undue influence, and a lack of concern for ordinary people. It is often used in political and economic contexts.
Examples
- Noun:
- The new tax cuts only benefit the fat cats on Wall Street.
- Protesters accused the government of being in the pocket of corporate fat cats.
- He started as an idealist but ended up just another fat cat lobbying for his industry.
Advanced Usage
- "Corporate fat cat": A very common collocation specifying a wealthy and powerful business executive.
- The scandal revealed how the corporate fat cats had manipulated the system for years.
- The term often implies a contrast with the "little guy" or ordinary workers.
- While the fat cats get bonuses, the factory workers face pay cuts.
Variants and Related Words
- Fat-cat (adjective, hyphenated): Used to describe the luxurious lifestyle or privileges associated with such a person.
- He enjoys a fat-cat salary and numerous perks.
Synonyms
- Tycoon: A wealthy, powerful person in business or industry (less negative).
- Magnate: A wealthy and influential person, especially in a specific industry (less negative).
- Plutocrat: A person whose power derives from their wealth (more formal).
- Bigwig: An important person (informal, can be less specifically about wealth).
Idioms and Related Phrases
- To live like a fat cat: To live an extremely luxurious and privileged life.
- After the company went public, the founders began living like fat cats.
Noun
-
a wealthy and privileged person
