Meaning & use
ladder of success
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrasefigurative
A series of steps or stages that lead to achieving success, especially in a career.
Grammar: Usually used with 'the': 'the ladder of success'. It is a metaphor, so it is not used for literal ladders.
Patterns
- climb the ladder of success
- the ladder of success
- on the ladder of success
She worked hard to climb the ladder of success in her company.
Many young people believe education is the first step on the ladder of success.
He fell off the ladder of success after a series of bad decisions.
Common combinations
- climb the ladder of success
- He slowly climbed the ladder of success from intern to manager.
- the ladder of success
- The book describes the ladder of success in simple steps.
- on the ladder of success
- She is still on the lower rungs of the ladder of success.
Synonyms and how they differ
- path to success
- More neutral and less structured; it suggests a route rather than a series of steps.
- career ladder
- More specific to jobs and promotions, not success in general.
Word family
- successful adjective
- Achieving the results you wanted.
- succeed verb
- To achieve something you have been trying to do.
Commonly confused: ladder of success or corporate ladder?
ladder of success vs corporate ladder
Corporate ladder refers specifically to the hierarchy within a company; ladder of success is broader and can include personal or financial success.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'ladder of success' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase is 'the ladder of success', meaning the steps toward success. Option B is nonsensical; option C has the words in the wrong order; option D is grammatically incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ladder of success”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.