Idioms

the hoi polloi

the hoi polloi

The common people, as distinct from those of the upper class. The term literally means "the many" in Greek and has a derogatory connotation. Now that she's rich and famous, she doesn't want to associate with the hoi polloi anymore. This is a gala for New York's upper crust—what makes you think they'll let the hoi polloi like us in?
See also: hoi, polloi
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

hoi polloi, the

The masses. This term, which was Greek for the common people or the crowd, was used by John Dryden in his Essay of Dramatick Poesie (1668). “If by the people,” he wrote, “you understand the multitude, the hoi polloi, ’tis no matter what they think; . . . their judgment is a mere lottery.”
See also: hoi
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
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References in periodicals archive
From there we had a great view of the hoi polloi making their way from the station to the castle with some knowing how to connect with onlookers.
In comparison to our current crop of dingy squillionaires and robber barons, the Vanderbilts, Belmonts and Astors were so much more entertaining, with their monstrous Fifth Avenue chateaux and even more monstrous "cottages," their frivolous costume balls, their genteel contempt for the hoi polloi and their obsession with bloodlines, both their own and those of their thoroughbred racehorses.
LAHORE -- Punjab chief minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has taken notice of action against the hoi polloi during the campaign against encroachments and land grabbers and issued directions to the concerned authorities that segments like street vendors and laborers should not be disturbed.
Our lawmakers are not worried so long as they make part of the one per cent of the population who are oppressing the hoi polloi.
These are the people who are in for a rude shock, when a few months down the line, they find that they have run out of water and now have to queue with the hoi polloi for 50 litres of water per household per week.
Hungry for acceptance by the hoi polloi, PT abandons his position to mastermind the world tour of Swedish songbird Jenny Lind (Rebecca Ferguson).
Hungry for acceptance by the hoi polloi, Barnum aligns himself with world famous operatic diva Jenny Lind (Rebecca Ferguson) and temporarily abandons the circus to go on tour with the Swedish songbird.
Whenever President Duterte is reminded about the need for him to behave like a statesman, his hackneyed response is: 'I ran for president, not for statesman!'-much to the amusement of his Cabinet men, hangers-on and the hoi polloi who couldn't care less.
People should look at the facts, decide whether they value democracy and make up their own minds on June 23, rather than listen to a privileged, unelected, unaccountable Eurocrat shouting out of the window of the gravy train telling the hoi polloi how to vote.
Perhaps if the hoi polloi of Acocks Green and elsewhere had graced us with their presence, rolled out of bed and attended home games against Forest, Charlton and Blackburn, the two losses and a draw might have turned into three wins?
Of course, the hoi polloi would not have been permitted to enter through the same door as the celebs and fashion royalty - that would be a step too far.
He is desperate to stop people, the hoi polloi, the poor, the old and the disabled from starting a civil war.
Would getting too close the hoi polloi be bad for her health?
This favoured brand of the hoi polloi was "roadside returns".
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