climb the corporate ladder

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to advance step by step through the ranks of a company

Why this phrase?

Company ranks are pictured as ladder rungs that a worker ascends one level at a time.

Example

“He climbed the corporate ladder by always volunteering for the hard projects.”

Dictionary details

Component words

climb corporate ladder

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

glass ceiling Neutral · CEFR B2

an invisible barrier that prevents women and minorities from rising to senior roles

call it a day Informal · CEFR B1

To decide to stop working on something for now.

do the job Informal · CEFR B1

to be good enough to achieve the desired result

have your hands full Neutral · CEFR B1

To be very busy or fully occupied with responsibilities.

hit the ground running Neutral · CEFR B1

to start a new job or project with immediate energy and effectiveness, without needing a slow start

learn the ropes Neutral · CEFR B1

To learn how to do a job or task properly.

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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