IDIOMS – Social Status

He is very nice and friendly, but his brother is very toffee-nosed

Don’t try putting on / giving yourself airs and graces. Remember, I know that you
come from a very ordinary family

Everyone was shocked to hear he was involved in crime. He was such a pillar of society

Her new boyfriend’s a bit of a rough diamond, but he’s very nice really

She’s always giving money to down-and-outs and anyone who begs in the street

We can really afford new furniture, but we have to keep up appearances, so we’ll buy
some

Social status and job/career

He was a high-flyer in the world of computers in the 1990s, and went on to….

He first made a name for himself in the world of classical music, then…

Kenneth Briggs is definitely on his way up in the financial world. He has just joined
the…

She is one of several up-and-coming actresses who have appeared in the new

The company needed new blood and she provided it. Within months, sales has gone….

Other useful idioms connected with social status/situation

I prefer to keep a low profile at work. I’m not interested in promotion

Oh, you must come to the party! Anybody who is anybody will be there

Harriet always seems to be the odd one out. She never seems to fit in socially

You can’t call someone “unemployed” any more. The politically correct name is
“unwaged”