ESL Podcast 573 - Discussing Social Class

social class - a large group of people who have approximately the same wealth (money), education, and social status (power and importance)

Do you think people in the upper social classes have an obligation to help people in the lower social classes?

to get a rise out of (someone) - to make someone react strongly, usually in anger; to do something just to make another person angry or upset

Did you do that on purpose just to get a rise out of me?

to see eye to eye - to agree with someone; to share another person's opinion

They don't see eye to eye on politics, but they are best friends anyway.

working class - a social class made up of people who have relatively little education, work in low-paying jobs usually paid by the hour, and normally don't own property or other assets

Jeminah grew up in a working-class family and was determined to go to college so that she could become a professional.

middle class - a social class that has moderate wealth, education, and social status; below the upper class, but above the working class

As the cost of a college education continues to increase, many middle-class families are having a hard time sending their children to a university.

upper class - the wealthiest (richest) and most powerful social class

Many who attend the symphony and the opera are upper class.

holier-than-thou - thinking that one is better than another person; with feelings of superiority, especially related to moral issues

Ever since he became a doctor, Frank has had a holier-than-thou attitude toward all his relatives.

to know which buttons to push - to know what to do or say to make another person react in a certain way, especially angrily

After 20 years of marriage, she knows which buttons to push during an argument with her husband.

worked up - agitated, angry, and annoyed; reacting with strong, negative emotions

I always get worked up whenever I hear my grandfather talking about his conservative political beliefs.

class warfare - fighting or disagreement between social classes, usually with the lower classes trying to take power and money away from the upper classes

Some people think that class warfare is unavoidable and that as the upper classes continue to get richer, the lower classes will start a revolution.

downright - used to emphasize that something is completely or totally wrong, bad, or false

That's a downright lie! How can you say such a thing?

insulting - very offensive and rude

Most women consider it insulting if you make a comment about their weight.

social responsibility - the idea that people who are fortunate, lucky, powerful, and wealthy should do things to help people who are less fortunate, lucky, powerful, and wealthy

Through our social responsibility programs, our company sends thousands of dollars to low-income families each year.

to do (one's) share - to do one's part; to help; to participate in a larger project

Each spring, they try to do their share to take care of the planet by picking up garbage along the beach.

to have a chip on (one's) shoulder - to hold a grudge; to not be able to forgive someone for something that happened in the past; to feel angry and resentful

How can you still have a chip on your shoulder? That happened more than three years ago, and it was an accident!

blue collar - related to the working class; related to people who work in low- paying jobs, usually paid by the hour, and often for working with their hands

She spent her life working in blue-collar jobs in local factories.

white collar - related to professional jobs; related to people who work in higher- paying jobs that require higher education, usually receiving a salary (an amount of money paid each year)

There are a lot of lawyers, bankers, and other white-collar workers at the party.

marginalized - feeling powerless and unimportant, often because of one's race (skin color), gender (sex), level of education, or wealth

Many women feel marginalized in the male-dominated army and navy.

under (one's) own roof - in one's own home, not in a public area or in a building owned by another person

Once you're living under your own roof, you can follow your own rules. Until then, we expect you to help clean the house and come home no later than 9:00 p.m. each night.