Meaning & use
bottom of the ladder
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrasefigurative
The lowest position or rank in a job, organization, or social system.
Grammar: Often used with 'at the' or 'on the': start at the bottom of the ladder.
Patterns
- at the bottom of the ladder
- start at the bottom of the ladder
- work your way up from the bottom of the ladder
He started at the bottom of the ladder and worked his way up to manager.
People at the bottom of the ladder often have the least job security.
She knew that starting at the bottom of the ladder would be hard, but she was determined.
Common combinations
- start at the bottom of the ladder
- Many successful people started at the bottom of the ladder.
- work your way up from the bottom of the ladder
- She worked her way up from the bottom of the ladder to become CEO.
- at the bottom of the ladder
- Workers at the bottom of the ladder are paid the least.
Synonyms and how they differ
- entry-level
- Entry-level describes a job for beginners; bottom of the ladder is a figurative phrase for the lowest rank in general.
- lowest rung
- Lowest rung is a similar metaphor and can be used interchangeably, but bottom of the ladder is more common in everyday speech.
Opposites
Word family
- ladder noun
- A set of steps used for climbing; also used figuratively for a hierarchy.
Practice
After graduating, he took a job at the ______ of the ladder, hoping to be promoted quickly.
Choose one answer.
The phrase is 'bottom of the ladder', meaning the lowest position. 'Top' would mean the highest position; 'middle' and 'side' do not form the idiom.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bottom of the ladder”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.