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idiom/saying

English translation: The success has gone to his head !


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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:Idiom - Saying
English translation:The success has gone to his head !
Entered by: Nanny Wintjens
Options:
- Contribute to this entry
- Include in personal glossary

17:43 Jul 15, 2004
English to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
English term or phrase: idiom/saying
I need to know an English idiom or saying for a situation when a poor person becomes rich, he simply forgets about his past and becomes very arrogant as if he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

Thank you
Srishti
The success has gone to his head !
Explanation:
The success/money/wealth has gone to his head !

Another option !
Selected response from:

Nanny Wintjens
Spain
Local time: 05:21
Grading comment
This appears to be the most befitting substitute for the same. Thank you all the great professionals.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +12The success has gone to his head !
Nanny Wintjens
5 +6forgot where he came from
Eng2Span
4recently acquired wealth or people who have it
Ray Luo
3 +1live above one's station
jerrie
3 +1new money
Klaus Herrmann
5 -1Nouveau richelindaellen


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


35 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): -1
Nouveau riche


Explanation:
This is used to describe that type of person. Although it is French, is is commonly used in English and found on page 927 of Random House Webster's College Dictionary.

lindaellen
Switzerland
Local time: 06:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Cilian O'Tuama: was about to suggest same or parvenu but neither implies 'arrogance'
3 mins
disagree  humbird: Yes it is used commonly, but this is for historical context (i.e. IT magnates), but no moral implication such as arrogance.
1 hr
agree  chica nueva: nouveau riche was the first idea that came to me...nouveau riche (disapproving) = describes people from a low social class who have recently become very rich and like to show their wealth publicly by spending a lot of money (Cambridge Advanced Learner's)
4 hrs
disagree  Paul Dixon: No mention of arrogance - agree with Susan.
1 day2 hrs
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50 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
new money


Explanation:
A variation of the noveau riche theme.

Klaus Herrmann
Germany
Local time: 06:21
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  humbird: Nouveau riche implys to unsophystication, lack of style, and even ignorance. Nothing to do with arrogance.
51 mins
agree  chica nueva: nouveau riche was the first idea that came to me...(but it is used disapprovingly by the old rich and upper middle class 'people of taste')
3 hrs
agree  Sonia Gomes: this is very appropriate, I love this one so sophisticated !
21 hrs
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45 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
live above one's station


Explanation:
to live / act above one's station, maybe?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 50 mins (2004-07-15 18:34:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

have ideas above your station, airs above your station

give yourself grace and airs (or is that airs and graces)



jerrie
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  lindaellen: This doen't imply rags to riches, but that one thinks that one is "better" socially than one actually is. It is an old-fashioned idea, of course.
14 mins
  -> It's quite difficult to render both the rags to riches, and the arrogance. Mine have more to do with 'arrogance/pretence'
agree  chica nueva: (disapproving) poseur, snob, thinks he's/she's a cut above the rest of us (from the point of view of old associates); act above one's station, put on airs and graces
4 hrs
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55 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +6
forgot where he came from


Explanation:
Not very witty, I know... but extremely common and easily understood.

After Mario won the lottery he forgot where he came from and all of sudden could only digest food from 5-star restaurants.

Eng2Span
United States
Local time: 00:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Cilian O'Tuama: or 'forgot his humble beginnings'
6 mins
  -> Thanks Cilian!
agree  jerrie: bury/forget his roots
7 mins
  -> Thanks Jerrie!
agree  Aisha Maniar
33 mins
  -> Thanks Aisha!
agree  chica nueva
3 hrs
  -> Thanks Lesley!
agree  Jörgen Slet
4 hrs
  -> Thanks!
agree  vixen
18 hrs
  -> Thanks Vixen!
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +12
The success has gone to his head !


Explanation:
The success/money/wealth has gone to his head !

Another option !

Nanny Wintjens
Spain
Local time: 05:21
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
This appears to be the most befitting substitute for the same. Thank you all the great professionals.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  uFO: I like this one
3 mins
  -> Thanks Ufo
agree  humbird: You said that right. I think this is the most approriate among all that are suggested.
26 mins
  -> Thanks Susan
agree  kellyn: yes! all that money has gone to his head! perfect!
50 mins
  -> Thanks Kellyn
agree  jerrie
53 mins
  -> Thanks Jerrie
agree  Saleh Chowdhury, Ph.D.
59 mins
  -> Thanks Saleh
agree  Elena Petelos
1 hr
  -> Thanks Elena
agree  Asghar Bhatti
2 hrs
  -> Thanks Asghar
agree  chica nueva
3 hrs
  -> Thanks Lesley
agree  Jörgen Slet
4 hrs
  -> Thanks Jörgen
agree  vixen
17 hrs
  -> Thanks Vixen
agree  Sonia Gomes: This may be a little late but....
20 hrs
  -> Thanks Sonia
agree  Alfa Trans
3 days11 hrs
  -> Thanks Marju
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
New money
recently acquired wealth or people who have it


Explanation:
new mon·ey

noun

recently acquired wealth: recently acquired wealth or people who have it
It’s largely new money that’s buying this kind of property these days.



Ray Luo
Local time: 05:21
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 4
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