social climber

/'souʃəl,klaimə/

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Word: Social Climber

Definition: A "social climber" is a person who tries to improve their social status or position by being friendly or nice to people who are more powerful, wealthy, or important than they are. Often, they do this in a way that seems insincere or overly eager to please.

Usage Instructions:

• Part of Speech: Noun
• Plural Form: Social climbers
• Context: This term is often used in social situations, especially when discussing someone's behavior in relation to their desire for higher status or acceptance among influential people.

Example Sentence:

• "She is such a social climber; she only invites people to her parties if they have a lot of money or connections."

Advanced Usage:

• A social climber might engage in "obsequious behavior," which means they flatter or praise people excessively to gain favor or improve their status.
• In literature or discussions about society, you might encounter the term used to critique someone's lack of authenticity in relationships.

Word Variants:

• Social Climbing (noun): The act of trying to improve one's social status.
  • Example: "His social climbing was obvious when he started ignoring his old friends."
• Socially Climbing (adjective): Describing someone who is engaging in the act of social climbing.
  • Example: "Her socially climbing tactics were transparent to everyone."

Different Meanings:

• While "social climber" mostly refers to someone seeking higher social status, it can also imply a lack of genuine relationships. It is generally negative, suggesting that the person is not sincere in their friendships.

Synonyms:

• Status seeker
• Social opportunist
• Climber (informal)

Idioms:

• "Rub elbows with": To associate or mix socially with someone important.
  • Example: "He likes to rub elbows with celebrities to boost his own image."
• "Climbing the social ladder": Actively trying to improve one’s social standing.
  • Example: "She is always climbing the social ladder, attending every high-profile event."

Phrasal Verbs:

• "Move up": To advance to a higher position, often used in a social context.
  • Example: "He hopes to move up in society by networking with influential people."

Summary:

A social climber is someone who seeks to enhance their social standing, often by being overly accommodating to those in higher positions.

Academic

Noun

1. someone seeking social prominence by obsequious behavior

Synonyms

• climber