low man on the totem pole
Meaning: The person of lowest rank.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The expression originates from the totem poles of some tribes of Native Americans. They were wooden statues made of tree trunks, which consisted of several carved heads, one on top of the other. The expression is usually used to describe the hierarchy in a business, club or office rather than a social or family setting. Even when the expression refers to a female, the expression is still low man on the totem pole.
More idioms — Daily Life
- make a clean breast of it — To admit and explain some wrongdoing; to confess something.
- make a long story short — To summarize; to tell only the main points.
- make ends meet — To manage financially; to have enough money for one's basic needs.
- make heads or tails of something — To understand something.
- make or break — To be the deciding factor in whether something succeeds or fails.
- make something from scratch — To make something by putting together the separate basic components, rather than using a…
More English idioms
- make the grade — To meet standards; to be satisfactory.
- make tracks — To leave, usually quickly.
- mark time — To wait out one's time by doing the minimum and without progressing.
- method to one's madness — Explanation; forethought or logic.
- midas touch — The ability to make money or to be successful at everything one becomes involved in.
- mind one's own business — To not inquire about, become involved in, or interfere with other people's affairs.
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