upstart
/' pst :t/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A person who has suddenly risen to a higher economic or social status but has not gained social acceptance from others in that class: An individual, often perceived as lacking the appropriate background or manners, who has recently acquired wealth, power, or position.
- An arrogant or presumptuous person: Someone who behaves in a cocky or disrespectful manner, often due to a newfound sense of importance.
- (Gymnastics) A gymnastic exercise: A movement starting from a position with the legs over the upper body and moving to an erect stance by arching the back and swinging the legs down.
Adjective:
- Characteristic of an upstart: Describing someone or something that has risen suddenly and appears presumptuous or lacking in the social graces appropriate to the new position.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Person):
- The old aristocracy viewed the wealthy industrialist as a mere upstart.
- He was dismissed as an arrogant upstart who didn't understand the company's traditions.
- Noun (Gymnastics):
- The coach made us practice upstarts on the parallel bars.
- Adjective:
- His upstart behavior offended the senior members of the club.
- They resented his upstart ambitions.
Advanced Usage
- Used attributively: The term is often used before a noun to describe the nature of a person or their actions.
- The board rejected the upstart company's hostile takeover attempt.
- Historical/Class context: The word often carries connotations of social class and the challenge to established hierarchies.
- The novel explores the tensions between old money and the new upstart families.
Variants and Related Words
- Upstartism (n, rare): The quality or behavior characteristic of an upstart.
- Parvenu (n): A synonym for a person who has recently gained wealth or status (often used interchangeably with 'upstart', though 'parvenu' is more directly focused on wealth).
- Nouveau riche (n): A French term meaning "new rich," referring to people who have recently acquired wealth, typically used to imply a lack of sophistication.
Synonyms
- Arriviste: A person who has recently arrived in a social class or sphere of activity, especially one who is aggressively ambitious.
- Social climber: A person who seeks to improve their social status.
- Presumptuous person: Someone who is overly forward or bold.
Related Phrases
- To be seen as an upstart: To be perceived in this negative light.
- Despite his success, he was always seen as an upstart by the old guard.
- Upstart mentality: An attitude characterized by bold ambition and disregard for established norms.
- The industry was transformed by a wave of upstart mentality.
Idioms
- No idiom is exclusively formed with the single word "upstart." However, the concept is central to phrases like:
- "The upstart challenging the establishment": A common narrative describing a newcomer disrupting traditional powers.
Adjective
- characteristic of someone who has risen economically or socially but lacks the social skills appropriate for this new position
Noun
- a gymnastic exercise performed starting from a position with the legs over the upper body and moving to an erect position by arching the back and swinging the legs out and down while forcing the chest upright
- a person who has suddenly risen to a higher economic status but has not gained social acceptance of others in that class
- an arrogant or presumptuous person