working stiff

English

WOTD – 6 September 2021

Etymology

From working + stiff (“average person, usually male, of no particular distinction, skill, or education”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌwɜːkɪŋ ˈstɪf/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌwɝkɪŋ ˈstɪf/
• Rhymes: -ɪf
• Hyphenation: work‧ing stiff

Noun

working stiff (plural working stiffs)

1. (originally US, informal) An ordinary person who works in a non-management position, especially one who works for wages rather than a salary.
   • 2018 November 14, Jesse Hassenger, “Disney Goes Viral with an Ambitious, Overstuffed Wreck-It Ralph Sequel”, in The A.V. Club‎^[1], archived from the original on 21 November 2019:

     Now he spends his time off from work hanging out with his diminutive best friend Vanellope (Sarah Silverman), the casual-dress princess hero of racing game Sugar Rush. Ralph enjoys life as a working stiff, though Vanellope is growing bored with her racing-world domination.

   • 2023 May 28, Robert Armstrong, “The world wobbles; the luxury industry strides on”, in FT Weekend, Life & Arts, page 21:

     The balance sheets of the middle class have improved as well. Good. But if working stiffs have come out OK, the richest have consolidated their gains.

Translations

ordinary person who works in a non-management position